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Current SSTS Rules, Laws, Statutes, Regulations and Ordinances

Local, state, and federal requirements all impact the administrative and technical requirements for septic systems.

Local government units (LGUs) can have requirements which are stricter than the minimum state requirements. Always check with your LGU first for SSTS requirements:

• County Office Locator
• City Office Locator 
• Township Office Locator

SSTS Rules

• Individual systems with flows up to 5,000 gallons per day (gpd): Chapter 7080
• Mid-size systems with flows from 5,001 to 10,000 gpd: Chapter 7081
• Administrative Requirements of Local SSTS Programs: Chapter 7082
• Certification/Licensing, Product Registration and Advisory Committee: Chapter 7083

For earlier versions of the state SSTS rules, please visit our Rules and Statutes History section.

Statutes Governing SSTS Rules

Minnesota Statute §115.55

• Local ordinance requirements and alternative local standards
• MPCA rule requirements
• Enforcement
• Inspections, complying criteria, disclosure at property transfer
• Warrantied systems

Minnesota Statute §115.551

• The $25 septic tank fee

• Licensing requirements for ISTS professionals
• MPCA licensing enforcement

Federal Requirements

40 CFR part 503

• Land application requirements for sewage sludge and septage

40 CFR Part 144 and 40 CFR Part 146

• Class V regulations for discharges of non-domestic waste to septic systems and large domestic septic systems

Other Minnesota Rules Relating to SSTS

Chapter 7060.0600 Subp. 5

•  Underground Waters

 Chapter 6120.3400 subp.3A

• DNR Shoreland Act and Flood Plain Management

Chapters 4715.0310 and  4715.0200

• DOLI Plumbing Code

Chapter 7001 (7001.1000-1090)

• NPDES Permits

Chapter 4725

• MDH Well Code

Chapters 326, 1800 and 1805

• Professional Practice and Licensing of Architects, Engineers, Land Surveyors, Landscape Architects, Geoscientists, and Interior Designers

Recent Legislation

2008 Regular Session - Chapter 357

• Section 31
  • Authorizes licensed SSTS businesses to perform work on systems of less than 10,000 gallons per day with prescriptive guidance from MPCA

2007 Regular Session - Chapter 131 (Section 73)

• Section 73
  • Provided SSTS businesses a temporary exemption until 2010 from AELSLAGID licensure while MPCA developed recommendations report by 2/08.

2006 Regular Session - Chapter 224

• Straight pipe - 10 month upgrade enforcement

Rules and Statute History

• 1994 to 2004 Legislative Sessions