Seneca County Watershed Protection Law
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
Have questions?
Please call our Environmental Health staff at (315) 539-1945.
