Selling a Home with a Septic System in Boulder CO

Do you own a home with a septic system in Boulder County? If you are thinking of selling that home, there are a few things you should know. Most homeowners with a septic system have been notified by Boulder County that there are some new regulations in effect with regard to septic systems and that action is required when transferring ownership of that property. But for many people the details seem somewhat fuzzy and since I get quite a few questions from sellers about this, I thought I’d try to clarify things a bit.

Boulder County is trying to protect its ground water systems and there is evidence that aging, unapproved, or failing septic systems have a large impact on the quality and safety of ground water systems. It is the goal of Boulder County to have all septic systems updated to County approved standards by 2023 and one way they are moving through that process is to require inspection and necessary repairs at the time a property is sold and transferred to a new owner.

The best and most complete source of information about selling a Boulder County home with a septic system is www.SepticSmart.org. But in a nutshell, here are the basics when you are selling a home with a septic system:

1) The Property Transfer Regulation (effective as of 9/1/08) requires that a septic system be permitted, inspected and County approved prior to the sale of the home. If your home’s septic system was installed and given final approval by Boulder County Public Health within the past ten years, then you may be exempt from this requirement. Either the existing owner, or the new buyer, will need to make any repairs or replacements within one year of the sale date.

2) You can check your home’s septic system permit/approval status by going to www.septicsmart.org/check. Be sure to check on the number of bedrooms that your septic system is approved for. This is one of the biggest issues since many homeowners have finished their basements or remodeled/added on and increased the number of bedrooms in the home since the septic system was installed. If you currently have more bedrooms than your system is approved for, it is very likely that Boulder County will require you to make some changes in order to have your system approved.

3) In order to have your system inspected, you will also need to have the system pumped at the same time. Be sure to refer to the County’s list of certified septic contractors to do this work for you because Boulder County will only accept inspections from those contractors that have been certified.

4) The condition of your home’s septic system is as important to the sale of your home as that of your roof, foundation, electrical or plumbing systems and today’s buyers expect these items to be in proper condition. As a seller, it is to your advantage to have all of the systems in your home in good condition at the time you put the property on the market.

5) Keep in mind that the complete process of getting a septic system permitted, inspected and approved may take up to three months depending on the season, site and difficulty of access.

6) Once you start the process of having your septic pumped, inspected, and any repair work done, be sure to follow through with the paperwork process for Boulder County approval because there is a time limitation. You don’t want to get through part of the process, let time go by, and then find out you have to start over because you have passed the time limitation to get the final Certificate of Operation.

7) Septic system repairs can be very expensive so it is much better to know what you may be dealing with prior to putting your home on the market. But it is also a strong selling point to a potential buyer to have an approved, fully certified septic system.

I realize that this septic approval process may seem a bit daunting, especially if you have lived in your home for many years. But keep in mind that it is in all of our best interests to have a good quality, safe water supply. As a REALTOR®, having been involved in a number of property transactions dealing with septic systems and as a 28 year mountain resident with a septic system, I am familiar with these issues. Give me a call if you have questions.