Georgia · Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 511-3-1
Septic system requirements in Georgia
Tank sizes, drainfield rules, setbacks, permits, and real costs — pulled from Georgia's own code rather than a national average.
- 3-bedroom tank
- 1,000 gal
- Design flow
- 150 gpd/BR
- Typical install
- $6,000–$16,000
- Permit fee
- $150–$600
- Well setback
- 100 ft
- Permitted by
- County / local
Septic tank sizes required in Georgia
Georgia sizes systems on a design flow of 150 gallons per day per bedroom. The tank must meet both the bedroom table below and a 2× daily-flow detention requirement — whichever produces the larger number governs.
| Bedrooms | Design flow | Code minimum | Recommended | With garbage disposal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 bedroom | 150 gpd | 1,000 gal | 1,000 gal | 1,500 gal |
| 2 bedrooms | 300 gpd | 1,000 gal | 1,000 gal | 1,500 gal |
| 3 bedrooms | 450 gpd | 1,000 gal | 1,000 gal | 1,500 gal |
| 4 bedrooms | 600 gpd | 1,000 gal | 1,250 gal | 1,500 gal |
| 5 bedrooms | 750 gpd | 1,250 gal | 1,500 gal | 1,875 gal |
| 6 bedrooms | 900 gpd | 1,500 gal | 2,000 gal | 2,250 gal |
Source: Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 511-3-1. The recommended column rounds the governing requirement up to a tank size manufacturers actually stock.Run your own numbers →
Drainfield size and cost by soil type
For a three-bedroom home in Georgia at 450 gpd. This single table explains most of the variation between quotes — the area scales inversely with how fast your soil accepts water, and the drainfield is the largest line item in the job.
| Soil | Loading rate | Absorption area | With reserve | Typical total install |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medium sand | 0.8 gpd/ft² | 563 ft² | 1,126 ft² | $10,100 |
| Sandy loam | 0.5 gpd/ft² | 900 ft² | 1,800 ft² | $12,800 |
| Loam | 0.4 gpd/ft² | 1,125 ft² | 2,250 ft² | $14,600 |
| Silt loam | 0.3 gpd/ft² | 1,500 ft² | 3,000 ft² | $17,600 |
| Clay loam | 0.2 gpd/ft² | 2,250 ft² | 4,500 ft² | $23,600 |
Estimates use Georgia's cost index of 0.89× the national average. Build a line-item estimate →
Permits and who issues them
County boards of health issue permits under the DPH Manual for On-Site Sewage Management Systems; DPH sets the standards statewide.
| Permit required | Yes |
|---|---|
| Typical fee | $150 – $600 |
| Soil evaluation | Required before permit |
| Licensed installer | Required |
| Turnaround | 2–5 weeks |
| Ongoing inspection | Not mandated statewide |
| Reserve area | 100% replacement area required |
Minimum setback distances
Measured horizontally from the drainfield unless noted. Local rules are frequently stricter, and on a small lot these numbers — not the soil — often decide the layout.
| Private water well | 100 ft |
|---|---|
| Well (septic tank) | 50 ft |
| Property line | 10 ft |
| Surface water | 50 ft |
| Building foundation | 10 ft |
Regulatory contact
Georgia Department of Public Health — Environmental Health
dph.georgia.gov · 404-657-6534
What makes septic hard in Georgia
Piedmont red clay across the northern half of the state percolates slowly and drives large drainfields.
Saprolite — partially weathered rock that looks like soil but behaves like rock — is common around Atlanta and routinely fails evaluation.
Coastal plain counties combine sandy soil with a shallow water table, which limits trench depth.
Things that catch people out
- Georgia explicitly requires 50% more tank capacity if a garbage grinder is installed. This is one of the clearest disposal penalties in the country.
- Daily flow per lot is capped at 600 gpad on a private well and 1,200 gpad on public water, which limits what you can build on a small parcel.
Georgia septic questions
What size septic tank do I need in Georgia?
A three-bedroom home in Georgia requires a minimum 1,000 gallon tank under Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 511-3-1. Design flow is 150 gallons per day per bedroom, and the tank must also hold 2 times daily flow, so the practical recommendation is 1,000 gallons.
Do I need a permit for a septic system in Georgia?
Yes. County boards of health issue permits under the DPH Manual for On-Site Sewage Management Systems; DPH sets the standards statewide. Fees typically run $150 to $600, with a turnaround of about 2–5 weeks. A soil evaluation or percolation test is required before a permit is issued.
How much does a septic system cost in Georgia?
A conventional system for a three-bedroom home typically runs $6,000 to $16,000 installed. Soil quality moves this more than anything else — on tight clay requiring a mound, budget two to three times the low end.
How far must a Georgia drainfield be from a well?
100 feet from a private water well, with the septic tank itself allowed at 50 feet. Local rules can be stricter.
Sources
Every figure on this page traces to one of these documents.
- Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 511-3-1 — On-Site Sewage Management Systems · verified 2026-09-18
- GA DPH Manual (2025) — Manual for On-Site Sewage Management Systems · verified 2026-09-18