Does Jefferson County require a septic inspection before I sell?

No. Ordinance 11-0248 covers construction and repair permits for septic systems. It has no rule requiring an inspection before title transfers.

What does Jefferson County’s Ordinance 11-0248 cover?

Construction and repair permits for a septic system. A failing system has to be corrected under a county permit and timeline, but the ordinance does not tie that requirement to a sale.

If my septic system is already failing, do I have to fix it before I can sell?

The county’s repair obligation applies whether or not you are selling: a failing system needs a permit and a fix under Ordinance 11-0248. Your buyer’s lender will also require the system to be sound at closing.

If the county does not require an inspection, why would my buyer ask for one?

Lender rules apply regardless of county code. FHA, VA and USDA loans require the septic system and well to be in working order, and each sets a maximum age for the water test: 180 days for FHA and USDA, 90 days for VA.

Does any of this apply if my home is on city sewer and city water?

No. Everything on this page is specific to properties on a private septic system and/or private well.

Does Jefferson County, Missouri require a septic inspection to sell a home?

No county mandate foundOrdinance 11-0248 (permit-only)Verified 2026-09-10

No. Jefferson County's on-site sewage code (Ordinance 11-0248) governs the construction and repair of septic systems. It does not require an inspection when a home is sold. A failing system must be corrected under a county permit, but that obligation exists whether or not the home is for sale. In practice, the inspection is driven by the buyer's mortgage: FHA, VA, USDA and many conventional lenders require the septic system and well to be sound at closing.

Source: Jefferson County On-Site Sewage Treatment Code and the Missouri DHSS program pages. Reviewed 2026-09-10.

Who and what this applies to

This applies if your home in Jefferson County is on a private septic system and/or a private well. If it's on public sewer and public water, this doesn't affect you.
The trigger is your buyer's loan and inspection contingency, not a county rule. See FHA, VA, and USDA requirements.
If your system is failing, the county code requires you to correct it on a timeline, under a county permit. That's separate from a sale.

What a seller should do

Confirm the system type and find the records: the septic permit, as-built, last pump-out, any prior inspection, the well log. The full pre-listing checklist.
Book the septic inspection and the water test early. They're separate from the home inspection, and the water test needs lab days. Use a Missouri DHSS-licensed inspector and a certified lab.
If a problem turns up, get a written repair bid from a separate licensed contractor before you're negotiating, and pull the county repair-permit process so the timeline is realistic. See your options if the inspection fails.

Costs and deadlines

Item	Detail
Water-test age limit at closing	FHA 180 days · USDA 180 days · VA 90 days
Septic inspection	$300–$700 in Missouri; locating a buried tank is extra

Scope of this page

Cities within Jefferson County may have their own requirements. If the property is inside city limits, check with the city as well.
County permit fees and processing times change. Confirm the current figures with the county before planning around them.

For questions about a specific property, contact the Jefferson County health and code-enforcement office in Hillsboro.

Official authorities

Jefferson County, Missouri — the health and code-enforcement office in Hillsboro administers on-site sewage under the county code (Ord. 11-0248). Current contact details are on the county's own website.
Missouri DHSS — On-site Wastewater Treatment Program — (573) 751-6095. Sets the statewide baseline, which has no inspection requirement at sale, and publishes the lists of licensed inspectors and registered installers and the suspended/revoked list.

Choosing an inspector

Use a Missouri DHSS-licensed inspector or evaluator, checked against the suspended list. Missouri rule keeps the inspector separate from the repair contractor (19 CSR 20-3.070(10)); the choice of who does the work is yours. See choosing a septic inspector and a repair contractor and how we vet contractors.

Sources & last verified

, ecode360. Reviewed 2026-09-10. The code contains no provision requiring an inspection at the sale of a home.
(no statewide inspection requirement at a real-estate transaction). Reviewed 2026-09-10.
; ; — the loan requirements that apply. Reviewed 2026-09-10.

Found something out of date? Email corrections@homecleared.com.

Common questions

Does Jefferson County require a septic inspection before I sell?: No. Ordinance 11-0248 covers construction and repair permits for septic systems. It has no rule requiring an inspection before title transfers.
What does Jefferson County’s Ordinance 11-0248 cover?: Construction and repair permits for a septic system. A failing system has to be corrected under a county permit and timeline, but the ordinance does not tie that requirement to a sale.
If my septic system is already failing, do I have to fix it before I can sell?: The county’s repair obligation applies whether or not you are selling: a failing system needs a permit and a fix under Ordinance 11-0248. Your buyer’s lender will also require the system to be sound at closing.
If the county does not require an inspection, why would my buyer ask for one?: Lender rules apply regardless of county code. FHA, VA and USDA loans require the septic system and well to be in working order, and each sets a maximum age for the water test: 180 days for FHA and USDA, 90 days for VA.
Does any of this apply if my home is on city sewer and city water?: No. Everything on this page is specific to properties on a private septic system and/or private well.