Do You Need A Title V Inspection?

Homes located in geographic areas, where no municipal sewer system is available, must rely on septic systems to process their waste. A septic system offers many benefits when maintained properly, but it can pose a major environmental and safety risk when ignored over time.

Title V inspections are reserved for homes with a septic system. The primary purpose of a Title V inspection is to determine the condition and quality of a septic system. There are many scenarios that require a Title V inspection, and homeowners must be aware of these scenarios to avoid legal issues in the future.

1. Buying or Selling a Home

Anytime a piece of real estate that includes a septic system will undergo a title transfer, a Title V inspection is required as part of the process. This means that homes cannot be bought or sold until a Title V inspector has had a chance to evaluate the septic system.

By requiring these inspections as a condition of real estate transactions, both buyers and sellers will be protected against entering into a sales contract without knowing whether a septic system is in good repair.

2. Renovating a Home

Another scenario where a Title V inspection would be required is during the renovation of a home. Many renovation projects change the existing footprint of a home to create more living space.

Altering the structure of a home could interfere with the function of a septic system. An inspector will need to be called in to determine whether or not the existing septic system can provide the capacity required to accommodate the new home addition.

A Title V inspector may find that you need to make changes or upgrade your septic system before your renovation permit will be issued by the city.

3. Change in Property Zoning

Sometimes a piece of property that was zoned as a residential area must be rezoned as commercial. In order for this change to occur, a Title V inspection is required. The septic systems that are installed on residential lots can differ from commercial septic systems.

An inspector will want to evaluate the existing septic system to determine what, if any, changes must be made to the system in order for it to accommodate a commercial property. Only after these septic changes are made will an inspector sign-off on changing the zoning designation of a particular piece of land.

Avoid legal trouble by knowing when to invest in a Title V inspection of your septic system.