Snohomish County septic O&M checklist
Quick facts
| Topic | What Snohomish materials say (re-check live) |
|---|---|
| Inspection interval | Gravity: once every 3 years (new gravity with pump: also recommended ~6 months after first use). Alternative / proprietary (SSD, ATU combinations, OSCAR, etc.): annually, or more often if the manufacturer says so — see the cheat sheet PDF for rows. |
| Self-inspect allowed? | No public homeowner self-inspect program found on Snohomish pages checked 2026-09-05. Inspections are performed by Health Department–certified Monitoring & Maintenance Specialists (pumpers may inspect gravity / pump-to-gravity only, per contractor table). State law allows counties to authorize homeowner inspection; Snohomish’s published path is hire certified contractors. If that changes, follow snohd.org — not this page. |
| Report portal | OnlineRME — look up reports / as-built style records via the county OnlineRME search link above. |
| Property transfer | Health Department is implementing state-aligned property transfer inspection review. Seller must have a full inspection by a certified contractor (and pumping if recommended) and complete the Report of Property Transfer process — see the live Property Transfer page for effective dates and steps. |
Homeowner checklist
- Look up your system in OnlineRME / Health Department records so you know gravity vs alternative.
- Open the frequency cheat sheet and match your technology — do not guess “every 3 years” for an ATU/OSCAR/SSD.
- Hire from certified contractors. Compare a few Monitoring & Maintenance Specialists.
- Pump when the inspector recommends — pumping interval is not a fixed calendar rule for every house.
- Selling: read the Property Transfer page early; do not invent a DIY transfer report.
Disclosures
Not affiliated with Snohomish County Health Department, WA DOH, or OnlineRME. No DIY inspection implied. See about & disclosures.