Call (775) 552-5179 to talk to a local septic pro.
Building on a vacant lot, replacing a failed system, or adding bedrooms that your current tank can’t handle? Carson Valley Septic connects property owners in Carson City, Gardnerville, Minden and throughout Douglas County with a licensed local provider for new and replacement septic installations.
When you need a new septic system
- New construction on a parcel without public sewer
- Replacing a failed system that can’t be repaired
- Adding bedrooms or a second dwelling where the existing system is too small
- Upgrading an old system before or after a home sale
How the process works
Every project is different, but installing a septic system in Douglas County or Carson City generally follows these steps:
1. Site evaluation and perc testing
Before a system can be designed, the soil has to be tested. In Carson City, the process begins with a test trench inspection, and percolation tests are performed at both 2-foot and 4-foot depths to calculate trench length. In Douglas County, the percolation test must be located within the actual area of the proposed leach field.
2. Design and plot plan
The plot plan shows where everything goes and proves the layout meets setback rules. Douglas County’s septic plot plan requirements include the distance from the well to the nearest part of the septic system (at least 100 feet when the well is sealed to 50 feet and 150 feet when it isn’t), neighboring wells and septic systems, every septic component and the tank size, trench depth, length, width and spacing, any watercourse within 500 feet, a sewer cleanout within 2 feet outside the house, the slope across the field in two directions, the distance to the nearest public sewer, the number of bedrooms, and the location of the replacement leach field area.
3. Permits
In Nevada, residential septic systems are approved locally. In Douglas County, the septic application is submitted with the building permit through the Community Development Building Division. In Carson City, you apply through the Building Department with the New/Repair Septic/Individual Sewage Disposal System application, and Carson City Health and Human Services reviews the design. Commercial systems in Carson City fall under the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection instead.
4. Installation and inspection
The tank, distribution components and field are installed to the approved plan, and the work is inspected to confirm it was built as designed.
Sizing a system
Required tank size in Nevada is tied to the number of bedrooms. Under the state standard, homes with up to three bedrooms need at least a 1,000-gallon tank, four bedrooms need 1,200 gallons, and five to six bedrooms need 1,500 gallons. That’s one reason adding bedrooms can trigger septic upgrades. Douglas County also requires an applicant adding an accessory dwelling to show the existing septic system is adequately sized for the increased use, and a second septic system needs at least 2 gross acres if water comes from a private well (or half a gross acre on a public water system).
Questions to ask before you start
- Is public sewer available or required at this property?
- Where is (or will be) the well, and is it sealed to 50 feet?
- How many bedrooms are planned now and in the future?
- Where will the reserve (replacement) field go?
- Who handles perc testing, design and permits?
Areas we serve for septic installation
Carson City, Gardnerville, Minden, Genoa, Johnson Lane, Indian Hills, Gardnerville Ranchos, Fish Springs, Ruhenstroth and Dayton.
Start your septic project
Have your parcel address or APN ready, plus your building plans if you have them.
Call (775) 552-5179 to talk to a local septic pro.
Carson Valley Septic connects callers with an independent, licensed local septic service provider. Work is performed by that provider, not by this website.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a perc test?
Yes. Both Douglas County and Carson City require percolation testing to design a new system.
Who approves septic systems in Nevada?
Residential systems are approved by local health authorities or county building departments. In Carson City that’s Carson City Health and Human Services via the Building Department; in Douglas County it’s handled through the Building Division.
How big does my tank need to be?
It’s based on bedrooms. Nevada’s standard starts at 1,000 gallons for up to three bedrooms.
Can I add a second home on septic?
Possibly. Douglas County has minimum lot sizes for a second septic system and requires proof an existing system can handle added use.