Are you a property owner, and you plan on building a new home? Perhaps you also want to renovate your existing home or construct an additional building to your current dwelling. You may also want to replace a damaged home. As the homeowner, you may ask yourself this critical question ‘do I need an SAP inspection to build a new home in Clifton, VA?
First, you must note that you need to get a building permit from your local building authority. Once you go for the permit, the local building official will inquire from the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) whether your residence’s sewage system is up to the recommended standard. This standard is referred to as “safe, adequate, and proper” (SAP).
Why Do You Need an SAP Inspection to Build a New Home in Clifton, VA?
Usually, for the majority of the dwellings, the sewage systems do not conform to the present health department regulations. What happens is that most of the sewage system installations were compromised, hence fixed under less rigorous conditions. Consequently, the current property owners may be forced to spend high costs in upgrading their present sewage systems. This is because they must meet the regulatory terms before setting up a new building.
Some homeowners may decide to evade the additional costs and continue using their old sewage systems without upgrading. However, the inspection is necessary if your request for the new building permit must be granted.
There are also instances when several sewage systems could be located closely together. This is primarily the case in mobile home parks. Most of these homes usually have accounts of failing sewage systems. In such scenarios, the building officials may first request that the historical sewage system failures be addressed on a community basis.
As much as you need the SAP inspection before building a new home, you should note that:
The policy does not involve evaluation procedures for sewage systems that are sold via a real estate transfer. Furthermore, the policy does not handle sewage systems evaluated as a component of revised subdivision plans.
What about structures that are not designed for human habitation?
For structures like garages, pools, sidewalk installations, decks, and pole barns, the local building official may request VDH to establish if the projected construction might obstruct the functioning of the existing sewage system. For such situations, VDH does not have the right to decide whether the sewage system is safe, adequate, and proper (SAP) as intended by the Code.
Talk to the SES Experts
SES is a professional septic service company founded in1987. Since then, we continue to provide our customers with complete septic services. We offer top-notch services right from septic system design, installation and maintenance to the recommended inspections.
Furthermore, you can always count on us for both regular and emergency septic tank pumping. All these services are necessary for your system to function appropriately.
When you also want to sell or buy a property, we offer timely septic system inspections as recommended by the Virginia Department of Health.
SES is proud of its excellent record for offering outstanding services. We are committed to continuing with such remarkable services for both residential and commercial clients.
Contact us via our website for the onsite help you need!