Septic system requirements in North Carolina
What landplan.io applies when it designs a septic system in North Carolina: the system types allowed, tank sizes, setbacks and soil loading rates, with what septic products cost there.
Updated
Design a septic system for an address in North Carolina
Reviewed landplan.io designs by North Carolina's own rules, which our staff reviewed against the state's regulations. Last published 5 October 2026.
Septic systems allowed in North Carolina
The system types landplan.io permits in North Carolina:
- Elevated Mound System
- Drip Dispersal System
- Low Pressure Trench System
- Conventional Nitrification Trenches
- Discharging System
Septic tank size in North Carolina
The daily design flow of a home: 120 gal/day per bedroom, at least 240 gal/day. The septic tank is sized from that flow:
| Daily design flow | Minimum tank |
|---|---|
| up to 360 gal/day | 900 gallons |
| 360 to 480 gal/day | 1,000 gallons |
| 480 to 600 gal/day | 1,250 gallons |
Septic setbacks in North Carolina
| From | To | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| LineString | Any other stream, canal, marsh, or other surface waters | 50 Ft |
| LineString | Any water line | 10 Ft |
| LineString | Downslope to Interceptor drains, foundation drains, storm water diversions | 25 Ft |
| LineString | Groundwater lowering devices | 25 Ft |
| LineString | Property Line | 10 Ft |
| LineString | Public water supply source | 100 Ft |
| LineString | Sideslope to Interceptor drains, foundation drains, storm water diversions | 15 Ft |
| LineString | Top of slope of embankments or cuts of 2 feet or more vertical height | 15 Ft |
| LineString | Upslope to Interceptor drains, foundation drains, storm water diversions | 10 Ft |
| LineString | Waters classified as S.A. from mean high water mark | 100 Ft |
| Point | Private water supply source, well or spring | 100 Ft |
| Polygon | Any Class I or Class II resevoir | 100 Ft |
| Polygon | Any other nitrification field (except repair area) | 20 Ft |
| Polygon | Any permanent storm water retention pond from flood pool elevation | 50 Ft |
| Polygon | Basement | 15 Ft |
| Polygon | Building foundation | 5 Ft |
| Polygon | Existing Septic Component to be Abandoned | 5 ft |
| Polygon | Other coastal waters from mean high water mark | 50 Ft |
| Polygon | Swimming pool | 15 Ft |
These are the values the landplan.io design engine applies in North Carolina. Confirm a design with the North Carolina health department or your county's before you build.
Parcel data in North Carolina
landplan.io has parcel boundaries for 100 of North Carolina's 100 counties: the counties where 100% of the state's people live. Type an address there and the design starts from the parcel.
Septic companies, designers and jobs in North Carolina
- Septic companies and distributors in North Carolina (95)
- Septic designers in North Carolina
- Septic design jobs in North Carolina
Where the rules come from
The regulations and documents landplan.io's North Carolina rules are read from:
Septic rules by county in North Carolina
- Alamance County
- Alexander County
- Alleghany County
- Anson County
- Ashe County
- Avery County
- Beaufort County
- Bertie County
- Bladen County
- Brunswick County
- Buncombe County
- Burke County
- Cabarrus County
- Caldwell County
- Camden County
- Carteret County
- Caswell County
- Catawba County
- Chatham County
- Cherokee County
- Chowan County
- Clay County
- Cleveland County
- Columbus County
- Craven County
- Cumberland County
- Currituck County
- Dare County
- Davidson County
- Davie County
- Duplin County
- Durham County
- Edgecombe County
- Forsyth County
- Franklin County
- Gaston County
- Gates County
- Graham County
- Granville County
- Greene County
- Guilford County
- Halifax County
- Harnett County
- Haywood County
- Henderson County
- Hertford County
- Hoke County
- Hyde County
- Iredell County
- Jackson County
- Johnston County
- Jones County
- Lee County
- Lenoir County
- Lincoln County
- Macon County
- Madison County
- Martin County
- Mcdowell County
- Mecklenburg County
- Mitchell County
- Montgomery County
- Moore County
- Nash County
- New Hanover County
- Northampton County
- Onslow County
- Orange County
- Pamlico County
- Pasquotank County
- Pender County
- Perquimans County
- Person County
- Pitt County
- Polk County
- Randolph County
- Richmond County
- Robeson County
- Rockingham County
- Rowan County
- Rutherford County
- Sampson County
- Scotland County
- Stanly County
- Stokes County
- Surry County
- Swain County
- Transylvania County
- Tyrrell County
- Union County
- Vance County
- Wake County
- Warren County
- Washington County
- Watauga County
- Wayne County
- Wilkes County
- Wilson County
- Yadkin County
- Yancey County
Questions
What septic systems are allowed in North Carolina?
landplan.io permits these system types in North Carolina: Elevated Mound System, Drip Dispersal System, Low Pressure Trench System, Conventional Nitrification Trenches and Discharging System.
What size septic tank do I need in North Carolina?
landplan.io sizes the septic tank in North Carolina from the daily design flow: up to 360 gal/day: 900 gallons; 360 to 480 gal/day: 1,000 gallons; 480 to 600 gal/day: 1,250 gallons. A home's design flow is 120 gal/day per bedroom, at least 240 gal/day.
How far must a septic system be from a well in North Carolina?
landplan.io keeps these distances in North Carolina: Point to private water supply source, well or spring: 100 Ft.
Does landplan.io have parcel data in North Carolina?
Yes, for 100 of North Carolina's 100 counties.