Plumbing and Septic Systems

New Ontario Building Code 

Review the latest code changes in Part 7 and Part 8, which may impact installation procedures. 

• Ontario has released a new Building Code to reduce regulatory burdens for the construction industry, increase the safety and quality of buildings, and make it easier to build housing.
• The 2024 Building Code streamlines processes for the sector and increases harmonization with the National Construction Codes by eliminating at least 1,730 technical variations between the provincial and national requirements.

Visit the Ministry of Housing for more information.

Timing and transition provisions

The 2024 Building Code came into effect on January 1, 2025, with a three-month grace period until March 31, 2025 for certain designs that are already underway. 

April 1, 2025

• Permit applications must be submitted using the 2024 Building Code

A permit is your legal right to build. Make sure you have a permit before you start work.

Work started without a permit can lead to the work having to be uncovered/exposed, higher permit cost or legal action.

You may need to obtain a permit if you are:

• Building a new building of any size that has plumbing
• Building an addition that has plumbing
• Building secondary suites including additions to existing buildings, apartments installed within an existing dwelling and secondary suites located within a new or existing approved accessory dwelling
• Changing the use of an existing building
• Taking out all or part of a plumbing or septic system
• Finishing plumbing in a basement or room
• Changing a room to a bedroom
• Installing or changing a plumbing system
• Installing, changing or repairing a private septic system
• Installing a deck
• Installing a kitchen or bathroom cupboard with plumbing
• Installing a lawn sprinkler or soaker system
• Installing a pylon, roof, billboard or fascia sign with plumbing
• Installing a commercial or industrial equipment with plumbing
• Installing a fountain with plumbing
• Installing or changing a backflow preventer
• Installing a municipal water service
• Installing a fire main or hydrant
• Installing a sanitary or storm drain outside
• Installing or changing a fire sprinkler system
• Installing a standpipe system
• Installing a glycol system

You do not need a permit for:

• Minor repairs to a plumbing or septic system
• Installing a kitchen or bathroom cupboard with no plumbing
• Changing existing plumbing fixtures in the same location
• Installing a Class 1 septic system

Please contact or visit your local municipality for all plumbing permit applications.

Payment

Payments for plumbing permits are made at your local municipality – usually as part of their building permit fee.

Apply online

Note: Any applications that are not fully filled out, with site plan and cross section drawings submitted and building construction drawings submitted will not be approved and the application considered incomplete. Time frames required by the Ontario Building Code are considered met and your application will be reviewed as time comes available to the plan’s examiner.

You can apply for a septic system permit using our online Permit Portal System. Through this portal, owners are able set up a personal private account to:

• submit and pay for applications
• review the status of their applications
• schedule inspections
• view inspection results
• track all applications from a remote location

This remote option allows contractors and homeowners to access their permit information from anywhere and will help us move towards a paper-free septic permit process.

For instructions on how to use the portal, click the information icons (a circle icon with an ‘i’ in it) in the portal.

Note: Please use the revised permit application located within the portal to prevent duplication of information.

Apply in-person or by email

For a seamless permit process, we encourage you to submit your permit application using our online portal however, we also accept permit applications in-person or by email.

To submit in-person or by email, please complete the permit application below and attach it to your email or print a copy and bring it to our office, located at 600 William Street in Cobourg. You may leave it in our drop box at the north entrance to the building. 

Permit Application

Fees and payment

• Class 2, 3, and 4 septic systems $965.00
• Tank replacement and Class 5 septic systems $500.00
• Septic system demolition $165.00
• Repairs and alterations to existing septic systems $500.00
• Revisions to issued septic permits that requires a site visit $275.00
• Revisions to issued septic permits that does not require a site visit $175.00

We accept payment by cheque, debit and credit card. Visit us at 600 William Street in Cobourg to pay in person. You may also pay by credit card over the phone.

Learn about septic systems

View the SepticSmart! booklet to learn more about your home’s septic system.

In accordance with By-law 18-2022, existing septic systems in Northumberland County (with the exception of Trent Hills) may be re-inspected upon owner or authorized agent request.

During a re-inspection, we perform a non-invasive inspection of the:

• property for outbreaks of sewage
• building to determine daily loading
• septic tank

The inspector will inspect the property for any potential outbreaks of sewage and may perform a die test.

The owner must grant the inspector access to the building to determine the daily loading rate of the system.

The owner is required to arrange pumping of the septic tank at their own cost. The inspector must be on site at time of pumping to witness the condition of the tank and if any reverse flow from the septic leaching system is present. Please arrange timing with our office.

A comprehensive inspection report will be provided with the inspectors’ findings. Any findings of an unsafe condition may have to be repaired with a permit.

Fees and payment

Septic system re-inspection: $175

This fee includes a file search to determine if we have a permit record, plus the initial inspection. If the system is found to require repair or is failing, further fees may apply. The owner is required to arrange for pumping of the septic tank at their own cost.

We accept payment by cheque, debit and credit card. Visit us at 600 William Street, Cobourg to pay in person or pay with a credit card over the phone.

Call 905-372-1929 or email us.

In your request, please include:

• Your name
• Property address
• Type of inspection
• Preferred inspection date and time (minimum of two business days’ notice) — please note, mandatory inspections will be performed first.

All new construction of plumbing and sewage systems in Northumberland County (excluding sewage systems within the Municipality of Trent Hills) are subject to inspection by County Plumbing and Sewage System Officials.

Plumbing inspections

Please provide two business days’ notice for substantial completion of:

• Site servicing (outside sanitary and storm)
  • Sanitary building sewer, storm building sewer and storm drainage piping prior to backfill,
  • Testing is required for all industrial, commercial, institutional and multi-residential units and may be requested by the inspector for any other occupancy type
• Site servicing (domestic and fire supply)
  • Includes domestic water supply for all buildings and fire service mains, prior to backfill,
  • Testing and sampling are required on all services 3″ and larger. Testing and sampling is to be performed by a 3rd party at the owner’s expense. The inspector is required to be present for testing.
  • The backflow preventer must be tested prior to use and the test report submitted to the inspector.
• Under slab
  • Includes interior underground storm and sanitary drains prior to backfilling,
  • Testing is required for all industrial, commercial, institutional and multi-residential units and may be requested by the inspector for any other occupancy type.
• Rough-in above ground
  • Includes rough-in of drainage, waste, vents, (DWV), roof leaders and domestic water distribution systems,
  • Testing is required for all industrial, commercial, institutional, multi-residential units
  • Testing is required for a house consisting of a main floor with a finished basement, or a main floor with a floor level above and may be requested by the inspector for any other occupancy type. 
• Occupancy/Final
  • Occupancy inspection for a house must have at least one 3-piece washroom consisting of a toilet, lavatory and tub or shower complete, a kitchen sink, a space for laundry and all unfinished drains permanently capped. The plumbing system must be complete and operational. The hot water system must be turned on and hot.
  • Final inspection is required on all industrial, commercial and institutional buildings, all plumbing systems, fixtures, equipment, and appliances must be in place and operational. 
  • Final testing is required for all prefabricated houses or at the discretion of the inspector.

Septic system inspections

Please provide four business days’ notice for the substantial completion of the:

• 3 test pits
  • Note: 1 test pit is acceptable however a 2nd and 3rd test pit can be required by the inspector,
  • Required for all sewage systems prior to permit issuance,
  • The application for the permit must be submitted and complete
• Readiness to construct the sewage system
  • To provide the inspector the ability to attend the site to discuss with the installer the installation and review the base cut for scarification
• Final
  • Substantial completion of the installation before the commencement of backfilling

Call 905-372-1929 or email us.

In your request, please include:

• Your name
• Permit number
• Property address
• Type of inspection
• Preferred inspection date (minimum of two business days’ notice)

You must apply for a Sewage Disposal System Review for any building additions, renovations or new buildings as you may be adding loading on to your septic system. New loading can be a result of adding square footage, bedrooms or new plumbing fixtures.  You will also need a review if your local municipal building department asks you to get our comments for a new shed, pool or garage to ensure you are not constructing on the septic system. This may also include applications for short term accommodation rental units to determine occupant loading if requested by the municipality. 

Please note

In your application for a review, you should include a copy of the septic system permit or installation record issued when your septic system was installed and a copy of the proposed plans and existing plans. If you do not have your permit or installation record, we will search our files. If none are found, you may be required to contact a septic installer or engineer to provide a report by excavating the existing sewage system.

Fee

$250

Please fill out the Sewage System Search Request Form if you need us to search our files for your septic system permit.

Please note

• We do not have records of septic system permits prior to 1985
• We do not have records for the Municipality of Trent Hills –⁠ please contact them directly
• We only have records for properties that we have received an application for
• Only the current property owner or an authorized person can request a sewage system permit search
• If we do not find a record of your sewage system, the fee is non-refundable. 

Fee

$75

 What if there is no septic system permit?

You will need to contact an engineer or a licensed sewage system installer to diagram the location, size and type of sewage system on your property. The diagram should include the location of the leaching bed (if applicable) as well as the distances from the property boundary, wells, water features (creeks, rivers, ponds, lakes) and any buildings.

Please fill out the Complaint Form if you believe an individual or business has a plumbing or sewage system that is in violation of the Building Code Act. 

Please note 

• Your identity is protected by the Freedom of Information Act
• To receive follow-up information regarding the complaint after our inspection, please check ‘request follow-up’ on the complaint form

Call 905-372-1929 or email us.

In your request, please include:

• Your name
• Property address
• Type of inspection
• Preferred inspection date and time (minimum of two business days’ notice) — please note, mandatory inspections will be performed first.

Backflow is the undesirable reversal of flow of fluids, chemicals, or any other foreign material into the public drinking water system.

There are two forms of backflow:

Backflow can cause our drinking water to become polluted or contaminated. Pollution reduces the quality of drinking water. It does not create a public health hazard, but adversely affects the aesthetics of taste, odour, and appearance. However, when the drinking water is contaminated, there is concern for public health if the water is consumed. This creates a threat of illness or, in extreme cases, a fatality.

Yes, the backflow of undesirable elements into the drinking water system can be prevented.

Cross-connections

A cross-connection is a physical connection between the water supply and any source of possible pollution or contamination. By eliminating or controlling all actual or potential cross-connections, the public drinking water system will be protected within the city water main system and within buildings.

Simple plumbing changes can easily eliminate many cross-connections. However, where this is not possible, backflow prevention assemblies are installed to protect the water supply.

Location of backflow prevention

Individual (source) Protection

Individual (source) protection is a means by where backflow devices are installed on each potential source of backflow within the piping of a building/facility in order to protect the rest of the piping within that building/facility from potential contamination.

Zone/Area Protection

Zone or area protection is practiced within buildings/facilities where both drinking and non-drinking water piping systems exist. This type of protection may also be practiced within the distribution system of a drinking water system in order to protect individual zones or areas from possible contamination from another zone or area within the distribution system.

Premise Isolation

Backflow preventers are typically installed within the facility on the service line connection to the drinking water supply and the fire main.

*Please note that all existing ICI (industrial, commercial, institutional) and multi-residential buildings that apply for a plumbing permit to perform additions, or renovations will be required to ensure a device is installed on their domestic and fire mains and provide up to date test reports. If the building does not have the proper devices, they will be required to be installed.

Northumberland County Council has approved a Backflow Prevention By-Law 38-2023 to help protect drinking water from contamination in all industrial, commercial, institutional (ICIs), multi-residential buildings within the scope of Part 9 of the Ontario Building Code, farm buildings and all buildings where a cross-connection is determined to be.

Yes.

There are two ways to obtain a permit for the installation of a backflow preventer:

1. If obtaining a plumbing permit for multiple plumbing fixtures or equipment, include the backflow preventers as well. The fee is $50.00 per device. 
2. If obtaining a plumbing permit to install one or multiple backflow preventers without new fixtures or equipment, the fee is $150.00 per device. 

Please contact or visit your local municipality for all plumbing permit applications.

Maybe, a licensed tester is required to test a backflow preventer which has testing ports. The test is to be recorded on the County-approved Test Report and submitted to the plumbing inspector, the owner and the tester are to retain a copy. Once tested, the backflow preventer is required to be tagged indicating the testers contact information and the date of the test.

Yes, the Northumberland County By-law 38-2023 requires all testable devices to be annually tested. The test report is required to be submitted. 

Maybe, you will receive a letter from the County indicating your property has been identified to have a potential cross-connection and must be surveyed. You will be provided with a time frame to complete this survey. The letter will also include specific information on who must perform the survey and where the survey must be submitted.

The County Survey Form must be used by the qualified surveyor you choose.

Download the County Survey Form

You may, at time of submission, provide a plan to gain compliance with the by-law. Please note, all premise backflow prevention devices are required to be in place and tested within the time frames and requirements set out in the By-law.

• By-Law 38-2023
• County Survey Form
• County-approved Test Report