When you need a permit
Camden County Waste Water requires permits for new construction and for replacing old septic systems (tank and laterals). The rules apply to:
- Residential lots under three acres
- Residential lots adjacent to Lake of the Ozarks, regardless of size
- Lots with more than one single-family home
- Commercial sites with flows under 3,000 gallons per day, and multi-family developments
The steps
- Soil morphology test by a soil scientist, before the system is designed.
- Application and $150 permit fee submitted to the department, which reviews the design.
- Site evaluation by a County Wastewater Inspector before the permit is issued.
- Variance, if needed. If setbacks cannot be met, a request goes to the Variance Board, which meets the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of each month.
- Installation within a year. Permits are valid for one year from issuance.
Who can do the work
Installers must be registered with both Camden County and the Missouri Department of Health. The county publishes lists of registered installers, pumpers, maintenance technicians, soil scientists, engineers and inspectors.
Contact
Camden County Waste Water, 186 Ha Ha Tonka Cut Thru, Camdenton, MO 65020. Phone 573-317-3810. Sewage complaint line 573-317-3821. Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
All details from Camden County Waste Water. Rules change; confirm with the department before you start. Properties in Miller, Morgan or Benton County follow those counties' rules.
Common questions
Do I need a permit to pump my tank?
No. Routine pumping does not need a permit. Replacing the tank or laterals does.
My lot is over three acres. Do the rules still apply?
If the lot is next to Lake of the Ozarks, yes. The lakefront rule applies regardless of lot size.