New Law?

[ishoot308]

I heard from a pretty reliable source in the local real estate business that there is a new NH law this year that says no home be it seasonal or otherwise, cannot be sold unless it has a state approved septic system. Anyone else hear about this?

Dan

[TheTimeTraveler]

Not sure, however there is a September 2024 New Hampshire law which requires Septic System inspections if you are within 250 feet of any shoreline and want to sell your property.

Massachusetts has had a Title 5 law on their books for over 30 years, and their requirements apply to anyone who has a septic system and want to sell their property (regardless of waterfront or not). It is a statewide law.

[TheProfessor]

From NH Environmental Services:

"Starting September 1, 2024, buyers of waterfront property with septic systems in the protected shoreland will be required to have a professional septic system evaluation conducted by a state-licensed evaluator in advance of the sale. Reducing wastewater pollution helps reduce risks to public health and reduce the risk of other negative impacts, such as cyanobacteria blooms. The requirement was part of House Bill 1113, which was signed into law in July. The evaluation will need to be conducted by a state-licensed septic system evaluator or, when applicable, a state-permitted septic system designer."

Also. If any house is 20 years or older torn down. A new septic design is required.

[camp guy]

No matter how you slice it, no matter how many 'grandfather clauses' are in play, and no matter whether it is seasonal or year-round, a septic system is potentially a leading cause of pollution, and all methods of mitigating this problem ought to be vigorously explored. Too much "winkin' 'n noddin'" has taken place in the past, and as has been well-discussed on this Forum, if Lake Winnipesaukee is surrounded with "Caution- DO NOT SWIM" signs the economy of the Lakes Region will evaporate. I. for one, do not want to be someone who said "I told you so".

[FlyingScot]

It should be the law that every home, is required to have a compliant well-maintained septic, and I agree there should be no amount of grandfathering, especially near the lake. I think that's an inspection every 5 years for a summer place

[WinnisquamZ]

Originally Posted by FlyingScot

It should be the law that every home, is required to have a compliant well-maintained septic, and I agree there should be no amount of grandfathering, especially near the lake. I think that's an inspection every 5 years for a summer place

Exactly. Not sure if I would agree to an inspection every few years. Most certainly on a deed transfer or sale. What does need to be clarified is pass fail criteria. Shady individuals will take advantage. Second opinion should be allowed


Sent from my iPhone using Winnipesaukee Forum mobile app

[longislander]

Originally Posted by TheProfessor

From NH Environmental Services:

"Starting September 1, 2024, buyers of waterfront property with septic systems in the protected shoreland will be required to have a professional septic system evaluation conducted by a state-licensed evaluator in advance of the sale. Reducing wastewater pollution helps reduce risks to public health and reduce the risk of other negative impacts, such as cyanobacteria blooms. The requirement was part of House Bill 1113, which was signed into law in July. The evaluation will need to be conducted by a state-licensed septic system evaluator or, when applicable, a state-permitted septic system designer."

Also. If any house is 20 years or older torn down. A new septic design is required.

https://gc.nh.gov/rsa/html/L/485-A/485-A-39.htm

[BroadHopper]

In the late 80s, Mass change the septic rules. I had a home just over the state line in Dracut. A letter from the Commonwealth stated my septic system is date 1979 and I had to replace it because of the new changes! At about the same time Dracut had in the works to run sewage on my street, but no time line given. Good riddance Massachusetts!

[tis]

Yes, let's add lots more to the tax base by requiring everybody's septic system to be inspected every year. Really? Do you know how much that would cost? Let's spend the money on enforcement another way please.

[Outdoorsman]

Originally Posted by tis

Yes, let's add lots more to the tax base by requiring everybody's septic system to be inspected every year. Really? Do you know how much that would cost? Let's spend the money on enforcement another way please.

We need to recoup $ from Safety Inspections.

[tg38]

think maybe each town should review plans of systems that aren't some what current .

[John Mercier]

I thought septic systems were pretty much a State thing.
Not sure the local municipalities would like to get involved.

[TheTimeTraveler]

It is my opinion that all new septic systems should be designed with a garbage disposal in mind.

Many folks do not have a garbage disposals in their homes today but subsequent owners install them when the property is purchased.

Taking this simple step at the design stage could lead to a longer life span for the septic systems and less harm to the environment (fewer failures).

.

[burgerunh]

I have been a state licensed septic system designer for over 20 years and am also a professional engineer. Septic Systems and Garbage Disposals do not mix!

Even if you design for the garbage disposal, it is still a bad idea. The garbage disposal chops up organics into very small pieces. The smaller the pieces, the harder it is to settle out in the septic tank. Whatever does not settle out in your septic tank gets sent out to your effluent disposal area (leachfield) and clogs it up.

[jeffk]

I disagree with the idea of requiring a state approved system in place before a sale.

If I am selling my property, I don't care how things are set up or what short cuts are made to put it in place. I can pass the costs along to the buyer so that doesn't matter too much.

But consider that the buyer may want to build a garage right in the spot I installed the new septic. He would not buy because he can't build his garage. It would be better to require a full disclosure and estimated cost for an upgraded system and leave it to the purchaser to set things up as he wants. He can take the cost in mind when he makes his purchase offer.

Or he is going to add a couple bedrooms and the septic I installed is not sufficient for his needs.

This falls into the thinking that you shouldn't fix up your place too much before a sale because it may conflict with what the buyer wants and you are not going to get the money back for your efforts. Paint something a lovely shade of green and the buyer hates green. Get wood floors resurfaced and the buyer wants wall to wall carpet and doesn't care about the money you spent to get it done or how good it looks.

[Garcia]

Here in MA you can sell a property with a failed septic. If it's financed, the bank generally requires money from the seller put in escrow to fix it. You cannot get a certificate of occupancy or insurance without a working system.

[Winilyme]

Originally Posted by burgerunh

I have been a state licensed septic system designer for over 20 years and am also a professional engineer. Septic Systems and Garbage Disposals do not mix!

Even if you design for the garbage disposal, it is still a bad idea. The garbage disposal chops up organics into very small pieces. The smaller the pieces, the harder it is to settle out in the septic tank. Whatever does not settle out in your septic tank gets sent out to your effluent disposal area (leachfield) and clogs it up.

We have garbage disposals and septic systems in both our homes. We stopped using the garbage disposals many years ago for the very reasons burgerunh states. We instead opt to compost 95 percent of our food waste and what little can't be composted goes out with the trash. We also don't flush wipes of any sort in the toilet and use 1-ply paper at the lake - among other precautions we take. There are lots of simple actions you can take to prolong the life of your system.