Any individual, business, partnership or corporation advertising, soliciting, bidding, obtaining permit, obtaining a business license, performing the function of manufacturing septic tanks, manufacturing of poured in place tanks, installing, pumping, servicing, repairing, and cleaning portable toilets, installing, cleaning, pumping, servicing, repairing, or maintaining onsite wastewater equipment or systems in Alabama shall have and maintain a current license issued by the Board or have a licensed employee in responsible charge. The Board shall establish the following types of licenses: A Basic Level Installer's License for the installation, servicing, replacing lids, repairing or maintenance of a small flow conventional onsite wastewater systems and shallow placement onsite wastewater systems. The definition of a small flow conventional OSS system is defined in the current State Board of Health Onsite Sewage and Disposal Rules 420-3-1. These systems may include a pump that lifts the effluent to the disposal field. These pumps must be basic on-demand pumps. An Advanced Level I Installer' s License to allow all work done under the Basic Level License and for the installation, servicing, repairing or maintenance of small flow systems as defined by the current State Board of Health Onsite Sewage and Disposal Rules 420-3-1, and/or mound systems, simplex pumps with time dosing requirements, on-demand duplex pumps including single family systems with secondary treatment. An Advanced Level II Installers License to allow for all work done under the Basic and Advanced Level I Installers License and for the installation, servicing, replacing lids, repairing, or maintaining all onsite  wastewater systems, permitted by the Alabama Department of Public Health, including effluent discharge systems and large flow systems as defined by the current State Board of Health Onsite Sewage and Disposal Rules 420-3-1, to include, multiple pump systems with timed dosing requirements and other advanced technology systems; This shall include cluster wastewater systems permitted by the State Board of Health Onsite Sewage and Disposal Rules 420-3-1 and community wastewater systems with Underground Injection Control (UIC) permits issued by the Alabama Department of Environmental Management. A Manufacturer's License for those involved in the manufacture of onsite wastewater septic tanks, including tanks poured in place, lids and receptacles. A Pumper's License for those pumping, servicing to include: replacing lids, repairing or replacing risers, replacing tees and filters or cleaning filters of a septic tank, sewage tanks, grease traps, and portable toilets. This shall not include the installation of pumps associated with septic tanks, sewage tanks and grease traps. Portable Toilet License for those involved in installing, transporting, pumping, servicing, repairing, maintaining, and cleaning portable toilets. This shall include all temporary onsite wastewater system facilities; included but not limited to: handwashing stations, holding tanks, shower trailers, restroom trailers, urinals, vault toilets and greywater. The Board may develop additional areas and/or levels of licensing at a later date as the industry changes require. Any unlicensed individual, business, partnership or corporation performing work for which a license is required must cease said work upon demand by the Board. A license is current only during the calendar year in which it is issued. A calendar year runs from January 1 thru December 31. Unless renewed, a license automatically shall expire at the end of the calendar year for which it was issued.

Author: Melissa Hines

Statutory Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §§34-21A-1, et seq.

History: New Rule: Filed May 19, 2000; effective June 23, 2000. Amended: Filed September 28, 2004; effective November 2, 2004. Amended: Filed April 27, 2006; effective June 1, 2006. Amended: Filed November 6, 2006; effective December 11, 2006. Amended: Filed August 10, 2007; effective September 14, 2007. Amended: Filed April 24, 2009; effective May 29, 2009. Amended: Published October 31, 2019; effective December 15, 2019. Amended: Published December 31, 2025; effective February 14, 2026.