septics and wells (Chattanooga, Benton: homes, buyers, new construction)

[acc77]

, Any info about "leak" test, permits ,will be apreciated, (where i need to go or call) .anything about basements, thank you! ( Benton.)

[alleycat]

The local health department would probably be the place to call; possibly the county engineer. I used to deal with this working as an engineer (I've done more than a few perk tests when I was younger), but it's been many years since I have.

I'm not sure what you're asking about basements. Are you talking about building one (new construction) or what you should look out for in an existing house?

[jguillot]

I also have questions related to this thread.

Does the seller of a lot or land in Tennessee have to tell you if the lot or land he is selling has NOT passed a perk tesk? (Not sure if I spelled it correctly - perk or perc?)

Is the seller required to have a perk tesk done if he is selling lots or land for homes to be built?

Are Realtors required to inform potential buyers if a lot or land has not passed a perk test?

This is all new to me, so any information you can provide will be appreciated.

Thanks.

[alleycat]

It's actually "perc".

When I worked for a firm that did surveying, we did a perc test on every new subdivision lot. We did not do one on acreage land.

I'm not sure what the legalities are anymore. I suspect that a perc test is required by most counties for subdivision lots. Subdivisions have to go through several approvals before they can be registered. Now that I think of it, it seems like the health department had to sign off on a subdivision plat.

[jaqkmq]

Chattanooga Environmental Field Office
540 McCallie Avenue, Suite 550- State Office Bldg, Chattanooga, TN 37402 | Phone: (423) 634-5745 | FAX: (423) 634-6389


The above address is where you need to take all your questions regarding septic tanks...

Counties served:
Bledsoe Bradley Grundy
Hamilton Marion McMinn
Meigs Polk Rhea
Sequatchie

Directions to Chattanooga Field Office :

From Interstate 24 take US-27 North to Exit 1A. Turn right on M.L. King Boulevard. Travel through five (5) traffic lights then turn left on Houston Street. Go up the hill to a 3-way stop. Turn right at that intersection and take an immediate left into the State Office Building parking lot.

[daniellefort]

We just bought 8 acres in a subdivision and a perc test wasn't done because there were too many areas the home could be set on but on smaller lots in the subdivision, they were all done.

And realtors may not tell you unless you ask. Once you ask though, they'll be sure to find out for you because they want to make a sale. At least our realtor did. We asked many questions and she got every answer for us.

[Bones]

Originally Posted by daniellefort

We just bought 8 acres in a subdivision and a perc test wasn't done because there were too many areas the home could be set on but on smaller lots in the subdivision, they were all done.

And realtors may not tell you unless you ask. Once you ask though, they'll be sure to find out for you because they want to make a sale. At least our realtor did. We asked many questions and she got every answer for us.

Don't believe it. My realtor was over at Easter and said a friend has ~ 25 acres and could not find "ANY" area that would perc. She said she could not believe it. More stringent percs were enforced a year ago or so.

[daniellefort]

Originally Posted by Bones

Don't believe it. My realtor was over at Easter and said a friend has ~ 25 acres and could not find "ANY" area that would perc. She said she could not believe it. More stringent percs were enforced a year ago or so.

Subdivisions are different than other property. In order to make a subdivision, each lot has to be perced before a Plat can even be made it's just the larger lots that were not done. We verified with the health dept.

[Bones]

Originally Posted by daniellefort

Subdivisions are different than other property. In order to make a subdivision, each lot has to be perced before a Plat can even be made it's just the larger lots that were not done. We verified with the health dept.

My point is; I would not buy any property with out a perc test near where I would build a house... I also would not wait tooooo long to build in case the requirements change.