King County just introduced new regulations requiring all sellers of properties with onsite sewage systems to have their on-site septic system inspected by a King County Licensed On-Site System Maintainer (OSM). The inspection must be completed and a copy of the report must be given to both the buyer and Public Health before the transfer of title.

This applies to any transaction for which mutual acceptance occurred after January 19, 2009.

If you’re thinking that people typically already had septic inspection prior to selling a home, you’re right.  One of the main differences is that the seller now needs to pick an inspector from the King County Licensed On-Site System Maintainer list, and the inspection goes not just to the buyers but also to Public Health.

Here’s a link to the main information page about the new regulations:

http://www.kingcounty.gov/healthservices/health/ehs/wastewater.aspx

And here’s the page that has the link to the list of King County Licensed OSMs:

http://www.kingcounty.gov/healthservices/health/ehs/wastewater/realestate/sellers.aspx

I’ve had good results with Earthwise Excavations (Postema Enterprises) – 425-486-1664.

By the way, don’t forget!  Regardless of who inspects, it’s important to get them to test the drainfield performance if at all possible, with a drawdown test or some other method applicable to that specific type of septic system.