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Bill Summary · HB 692

HB 692 (136th General Assembly) — Revise the household sewage treatment system law

Purpose and intent

HB 692 proposes targeted simplifications and flexibility in Ohio’s regulation of household sewage treatment systems (HSTS) and related sewage treatment systems (STS). The core aims are to reduce mandatory inspections, permit broader discretion for local boards of health, and adjust soil evaluation and installation requirements to prioritize public health and safety while easing regulatory burdens where appropriate. The bill retains a framework for state rules and local administration but narrows some mandatory processes and expands certain owner-driven options.

Key provisions and changes

  • Inspections and maintenance (STS/HSTS)

    • Eliminates mandatory initial inspections within 12 months of installation for STS systems and the requirement to certify such inspections to the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) within 60 days.
    • Prohibits mandatory annual inspections of STS, inspections without probable cause, and inspections without a good-faith complaint.
    • Removes the requirement that a property owner demonstrate system maintenance in lieu of an inspection, though boards may still develop maintenance programs. Inspections may occur if there is a good-faith complaint or probable cause, or for public health protection with owner cost recovery as applicable.
    • Maintains, but makes permissive rather than mandatory, a board of health’s duty to develop an administrative maintenance program, with rules governing proof of maintenance and potential inspections.

  • Soil evaluations and site requirements

    • Rules may not require a soil evaluation for every proposed STS site; a board may conduct soil evaluations only if there is a good-faith public health reason. A property owner may request a soil evaluation prior to installation.
    • Keeps a site evaluation concept but shifts to a more site-specific, need-based approach rather than blanket soil-evaluation mandates.

  • HSTS installation and design

    • Prohibits boards of health from:
    • Forbidding installation of an HSTS on a slope if effluent is designed to leach downhill in a health-protective manner.
    • Requiring a new design approval, site drawing, or new permit for an HSTS replacement if there are no substantive changes to the original system.
    • Requiring installation in an undisturbed area if basic functionality requirements are met.
    • Generally loosens restrictions on installation/design while preserving essential health protections.

  • Regulatory structure and authority

    • Local boards of health may regulate STSs under rules adopted by the Director of Health, with a process for economic impact considerations. Boards proposing more stringent local rules must submit them to the director for review and approval.
    • Director of Health retains oversight to ensure consistency, avoid conflicts with chapter rules, and determine when local rules are no longer enforceable.

  • Apprentice/registration and administration (ODS/DOH)

    • Boards must register installers, service providers, and septage haulers; establish competency requirements and bonding/security standards; and set registration fees via a DOH-established methodology.
    • Maintains records necessary to ascertain compliance (though the bill text indicates a shift away on “record maintenance” in the latest version; the intent is to rationalize record requirements).

  • Appeals and hearing process

    • Keeps a hearing and appeal mechanism related to board decisions, including a sewage treatment system appeals board process with timelines for decisions.

  • Other references and exemptions

    • Clarifies that certain sewerage/treatment works remain subject to existing director approvals, with specified exemptions for private residences, stormwater from certain facilities, and specified agricultural operations.
    • Exempts certain on-lot disposal/STS activities when a board has opted to regulate small-flow systems, with potential transition to EPA (environmental protection agency) oversight if a board withdraws regulation.

Who would be affected

  • Local boards of health: Adjusted responsibilities, reduced mandatory inspection burden, need to adopt and administer maintenance programs, and updated processes for permits, site evaluations, and registrations.
  • Property owners with HSTS/STSs: Greater flexibility in installation on slopes, replacement processes, and compliance pathways; potential changes in maintenance demonstrations and inspection expectations.
  • Installers, service providers, and septage haulers: New or adjusted registration requirements, competency standards, bonding/security requirements, and annual registration fee mechanisms.
  • Ohio Department of Health (ODH): Rule updates and administration to align with the revised statutory framework; potential changes to fee allocation and rule-making timelines.
  • Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and local health districts: Possible shifts in oversight if boards withdraw from regulating certain systems.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • The bill is introduced and referred to committee (as of February 2026). It modifies rules under the Director of Health’s authority and outlines processes for:
    • Board rule submission to the director for approval (including 90-day review windows for proposed local rules).
    • Public comment periods prior to rule adoption (minimum 60 days before rule adoption, with optional director review).
    • Hearing timelines: boards must issue written decisions within defined periods after hearings.
  • The bill repeals some existing sections and replaces them with amended provisions, setting the stage for future rulemaking and implementation upon enactment.

Summary assessment

HB 692 shifts Ohio’s household sewage treatment system framework toward greater regulatory flexibility and local discretion while preserving essential public health safeguards. By limiting mandatory inspections, narrowing soil-evaluation requirements, and expanding owner-focused maintenance and replacement provisions, the bill reduces regulatory burdens on homeowners and local boards of health. It maintains oversight mechanisms, registration duties for professionals, and a formal appeals process, ensuring due process and accountability in STS/HSTS management.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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