What is the Seneca County Watershed Protection Law?
In 2021, the Seneca County Board of Supervisors passed Local Law #7, the Seneca County Watershed Protection Law. The law aims to work towards these goals through a program of routine inspections (on a cycle) for properties that border the major water bodies in the county.
The major goals of the law are:
• To protect the waterbodies, watersheds, and drinking water sources in the county from residential wastewater containing harmful bacteria, viruses and excess nutrients.
• To help prevent people from unknowingly purchasing properties with a septic system that is failing or that is likely to fail.
• To bring Seneca County in-line with other municipalities in the region and across NYS that have enacted septic system inspection laws or regulations in recent years.
• To standardize a set of minimum requirements for septic inspections within the county so that buyers and sellers alike know what to expect.
What does this mean for you?
• If there is a transfer or change of property ownership a Property Transfer Inspection and Septic Tank pump out is required.
• If you own property which is within 250 feet of Seneca Lake, Cayuga Lake, Seneca Cayuga Canal, Erie Canal or the Clyde River a routine inspection is required every 5 years (view/download the 5-Year Inspection Schedule).
HELPFUL LINKS
Seneca County Certified Inspectors
Seneca County Registered Contractors
Seneca County Inspection Protocols
Application for Business Permit
Septic System Inspection Instructions
Application for New/Modified Systems
Waste Transporter Certification Form
Application for a New Septic System in an Approved Subdivision
Application to Replace a Septic Tank
Completion Certificate for Septic Tank Installation
Variances-General Waivers Issued by Board of Health
Request for Reimbursement (Septic Reimbursement Grant)
Assignment of Reimbursement (Septic Reimbursement Grant)
Grant Application (Septic Reimbursement Grant)
Have questions?
Please call our Environmental Health staff at (315) 539-1945.
2465 Bonadent Drive – Suite 3 • Waterloo, NY 13165
Public Health: (315) 539-1920
Environmental Health: (315) 539-1945