Septic system requirements in Pennsylvania

What landplan.io applies when it designs a septic system in Pennsylvania: the system types allowed, tank sizes, setbacks and soil loading rates, with what septic products cost there.

Updated 5 October 2026

Design a septic system for an address in Pennsylvania

Reviewed landplan.io designs by Pennsylvania's own rules, which our staff reviewed against the state's regulations. Last published 5 October 2026.

10system types permitted

900 gallonssmallest septic tank

36septic companies located here

66 of 67counties with parcel data

Septic systems allowed in Pennsylvania

The system types landplan.io permits in Pennsylvania:

Elevated Sand Mound Bed
Pressure Distribution Trenches
Spray Distribution System
Standard Trenches
Drip systems
In-Ground Bed Gravity
In-Ground Bed Pressure Distribution
At Grade System
Infiltrator Advanced Treatment Leachfield (ATL)
Infiltrator Advanced Enviro-Septic® (AES)

Septic tank size in Pennsylvania

The daily design flow of a home: 100 gal/day per bedroom, at least 400 gal/day. The septic tank is sized from that flow:

Septic Tank: minimum size by daily design flow
Daily design flow	Minimum tank
up to 500 gal/day	900 gallons
500 to 5,000 gal/day	1,250 gallons
5,000 to 7,500 gal/day	8,000 gallons
7,500 to 10,000 gal/day	11,625 gallons

Septic setbacks in Pennsylvania

Minimum distances
From	To	Distance
LineString	Drinking water line, under pressure	10 Ft
Point	Cistern	25 Ft
Point	Domestic water supply well	50 Ft
Polygon	Detention basins, retention basins and stormwater seepage beds	10 Ft
Polygon	Existing Septic Component to be Abandoned	5 ft
Polygon	Streams, lakes or other surface waters	25 Ft

These are the values the landplan.io design engine applies in Pennsylvania. Confirm a design with the Pennsylvania health department or your county's before you build.

Septic system costs in Pennsylvania

Delivered prices (October 2026)
Product	Median	Typical range	Listings
Dose Tank	$1,433	$1,395 – $1,461	19
Septic Tank	$1,754	$1,639 – $1,889	22

The Pennsylvania price index: every product type, month by month.

Parcel data in Pennsylvania

landplan.io has parcel boundaries for 66 of Pennsylvania's 67 counties: the counties where 99.8% of the state's people live. Type an address there and the design starts from the parcel.

Septic companies, designers and jobs in Pennsylvania

Where the rules come from

The regulations and documents landplan.io's Pennsylvania rules are read from:

Chapter 73 - Standards for Onlot Sewage Treatment Facilities (25 Pa. Code Chapter 73)

Septic rules by county in Pennsylvania

Questions

What septic systems are allowed in Pennsylvania?

landplan.io permits these system types in Pennsylvania: Elevated Sand Mound Bed, Pressure Distribution Trenches, Spray Distribution System, Standard Trenches, Drip systems, In-Ground Bed Gravity, In-Ground Bed Pressure Distribution, At Grade System, Infiltrator Advanced Treatment Leachfield (ATL) and Infiltrator Advanced Enviro-Septic® (AES).

What size septic tank do I need in Pennsylvania?

landplan.io sizes the septic tank in Pennsylvania from the daily design flow: up to 500 gal/day: 900 gallons; 500 to 5,000 gal/day: 1,250 gallons; 5,000 to 7,500 gal/day: 8,000 gallons; larger flows need larger tanks. A home's design flow is 100 gal/day per bedroom, at least 400 gal/day.

How far must a septic system be from a well in Pennsylvania?

landplan.io keeps these distances in Pennsylvania: Point to domestic water supply well: 50 Ft.

Does landplan.io have parcel data in Pennsylvania?

Yes, for 66 of Pennsylvania's 67 counties.