Can Lincoln County deny my septic permit if I’m near public sewer?

Yes, in one specific case: the county denies a new construction or repair permit if a public sewer connection within 300 feet is practical, economically feasible, and approved by the sewer authority — that property is pushed onto public sewer instead.

What does Lincoln County’s construction/repair permit cost?

$100, per the Health Department’s own fee schedule — but only if you’re building, installing, or repairing a system. An existing, unmodified system being sold as-is doesn’t trigger this permit.

How old is Lincoln County’s septic ordinance?

The On-Site Sewage Disposal System Ordinance dates to 1995, revised in April 1999 — it covers permits for new construction, installation, modification, or repair, with nothing tying an inspection to a sale.

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

No county mandate found300-ft public sewer ruleVerified 2026-09-15

No. Lincoln County's On-Site Sewage Disposal System Ordinance requires a permit for any new construction, installation, modification, or repair of a septic system, but it does not tie an inspection to a property sale. What usually drives a septic and well inspection here is your buyer's mortgage.

Source: Lincoln County On-Site Sewage Disposal System Ordinance and the Health Department's application-process guide. Reviewed 2026-09-15.

Who and what this applies to

This applies if your home in Lincoln County is on a private septic system and/or private well.
The trigger is your buyer's loan and inspection contingency: FHA, VA, USDA.
One real local wrinkle: the county denies a construction or repair permit if a public sewer connection within 300 feet of the property is practical, economically feasible, and approved by the public sewer authority — those properties get pushed onto public sewer instead of a new or replacement septic system.

What a seller should do

Find the records and confirm the system type — the pre-listing checklist.
Book the septic inspection and the water test early, with a DHSS-licensed inspector and a certified lab.
If a problem turns up, get a written bid from a Lincoln County-licensed installer and pull the county permit timeline. See your options if it 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
County construction/repair permit	$100, per the county Health Department’s own fee schedule — only required if building, installing, or repairing a system, not for an existing, unmodified system at sale

Scope of this page

The county’s published installer and soil-evaluator list is dated 2018. Ask the Health Department for the current roster.
Processing times for a repair or replacement permit vary. Ask the Health Department for the current timeline.
Whether the county expects a private well water test at a sale is a question for the Health Department; lender rules apply regardless.

For questions about a specific property, call the Lincoln County Health Department's Office of Environmental Sanitation in Troy at (636) 528-6117 ext. 2.

Official authorities

Lincoln County Health Department — Office of Environmental Sanitation — #5 Health Department Drive, Troy, MO 63379 · (636) 528-6117 ext. 2 · the county ordinance, construction/repair permits, the installer roster.
Missouri DHSS — On-site Wastewater Treatment Program — (573) 751-6095 · the statewide baseline and the licensed-inspector / suspended lists.

Choosing an inspector

Use a Missouri DHSS-licensed inspector, checked against the suspended list; for a repair, Lincoln County requires its own licensed installer, not just the state DHSS credential. The inspector and the repair contractor stay separate under 19 CSR 20-3.070(10). See choosing a septic inspector and a repair contractor.

Sources & last verified

. Reviewed in full 2026-09-15. The ordinance contains no provision requiring an inspection at the sale of a home.
, lchdmo.org. Confirms the current office contact and the construction/repair-only permit process. Reviewed 2026-09-15.
. Reviewed 2026-09-15.
; ; . Reviewed 2026-09-15.

Corrections: corrections@homecleared.com.

Common questions

Can Lincoln County deny my septic permit if I’m near public sewer?: Yes, in one specific case: the county denies a new construction or repair permit if a public sewer connection within 300 feet is practical, economically feasible, and approved by the sewer authority — that property is pushed onto public sewer instead.
What does Lincoln County’s construction/repair permit cost?: $100, per the Health Department’s own fee schedule — but only if you’re building, installing, or repairing a system. An existing, unmodified system being sold as-is doesn’t trigger this permit.
How old is Lincoln County’s septic ordinance?: The On-Site Sewage Disposal System Ordinance dates to 1995, revised in April 1999 — it covers permits for new construction, installation, modification, or repair, with nothing tying an inspection to a sale.
Who administers septic permits in Lincoln County?: The Lincoln County Health Department’s Office of Environmental Sanitation in Troy, (636) 528-6117 ext. 2.