(CHEROKEE LAKE REALTY WRITES A WEEKLY COLUMN FOR THE GRAINGER COUNTY JOURNAL NEWSPAPER. THIS WAS A RECENT QUESTION ASKED BY A READER.)
When you purchased your home a Subsurface Sewage Disposal System Permit Disclosure form should have been given to you by the seller and/or their real estate agent. It requires the sellers’ signature documenting information on the septic system, including the number of bedrooms the system is approved for. Your signature is also required to acknowledge that you have received the form. I suggest you look through all the sales documents you have for that form. Now, if you don’t have this form, for whatever reason, you can contact the Tennessee Department of Environment & Conservation for a record search. You can do this online at:
https://www.tn.gov/environment/permit-permits/water-permits1/septic-systems-permits.html
You will need to provide some information on your property… County, Map Number, Parcel Number, Lot Number, Property Owner, Street Address, and Subdivision. If you have difficulty gathering this information, you can always call the Knoxville field office at (865) 594-6035. Since Covid, most local counties keep their records at the Knoxville office. Not all, however. Jefferson County, for example, does not, so if your home is in Jefferson County you need to contact them directly. Also, keep in mind, your real estate agent can get this information for you. They handle these types of requests often, and what might seem difficult for you, they can handle easily. Now, let’s say that you can’t find the form. Or the Tennessee Department of Environment & Conservation informs you that either a permit was not issued for your property (the older the home, the greater the chance that this will be the case) or the file could not be located. I recommend that you get the Septic Disclosure form from your real estate agent and check the appropriate box in the form, indicating as such. Make sure you get written documentation from the TDEC of this in case questions arise. Lastly, you can also choose to have the septic system inspected. An inspection will typically cost you a few hundred dollars, and having the tank pumped at the same time is ideal. The more you can do to provide peace of mind for a potential buyer on the facts and condition of your home, the better for all parties involved. Hope this helps, and if you need further assistance, feel free to email us again.
