1. (1) Whenever the use of an onsite sewage treatment and disposal system or stationary holding tank is discontinued following connection to a system permitted under Chapter 403, F.S., or discontinuing the use of a septic tank(s) or other onsite sewage tank(s) and replacement with another onsite sewage tank(s), the system must be abandoned within 90 days and any further use of the system or tank(s) for any purpose is prohibited. However, if the Department or its designee approves the use of the retention tank where the tank is to become an integral part of a system permitted under Chapter 403, F.S., or stormwater management system, the onsite sewage tank(s) need not be abandoned.

2. (2) Abandonment of an onsite sewage treatment and disposal system or stationary holding tank must be conducted pursuant to a general permit or a system construction permit, unless excepted in this rule, subject to full compliance with this rule.

   1. (a) General Permit. To obtain a general permit for the abandonment of an onsite sewage treatment and disposal system the following steps must be taken in the order listed:

      1. Notice of Intent. The contractor performing the abandonment must provide their notice of intent to abandon the onsite sewage treatment and disposal system under a general permit as agent for the applicant, submit the required fee for an abandonment permit with the Department, and provide the following information:

      a. Property owner name and contact information.

      b. Contractor’s name and license information, business name and business license information, business telephone and website contact information and e-mail.

      c. Property street address, parcel number, city, state, zip code.

      d. County where the onsite sewage treatment and disposal system to be abandoned is located.

      e. Existing permit numbers, if applicable and known.

      f. Description of system to be abandoned.

      2. The Department will review the notice of intent information submitted and issue the General Permit on Form DEP 4011, effective June 2026, General Permit for System Abandonment, herein adopted and incorporated by reference at HYPERLINK "https://flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-19500"
      https://flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-19500. The General Permit is valid for 18 months from date of issuance.

      3. The tank(s) must be pumped out by a permitted septage disposal company who must provide a receipt or a written certification to the contractor performing the abandonment. Alternatively, if the tank(s) is/are empty and dry at the commencement of the abandonment, a written statement to that effect by the septage disposal company or the licensed contractor performing the abandonment must be provided to the Department.

      4. The bottom of the tank(s) must be opened or ruptured, or the entirety of each tank collapsed to prevent the tank from retaining water; and,

      5. The tank(s) must be filled with clean sand or other suitable material, and completely covered with soil. If the tank(s) cannot be ruptured or collapsed the fill material must be flowable fill concrete.

      6. Alternative to the procedures in subparagraphs 62-6.011(2)(a)4. and 5., F.A.C., the tank(s) may be removed from the site, following the procedures in subsection 62-6.015(6), F.A.C., for spoil material. The removed tank(s) must be scrapped and not used in other onsite sewage treatment and disposal systems.

      7. After completion of the abandonment, the contractor performing the abandonment must complete the certification to confirm that the system was properly abandoned in accordance with this rule and in compliance with the General Permit, Form DEP 4011, herein adopted and incorporated by reference in subparagraph 62-6.011(2)(a)2., F.A.C.

      8. The contractor must provide a receipt or a written certification of the pump-out and photographic documentation of the abandonment process to the Department. Photographs must be submitted in a generally accepted digital format with metadata attached, including the date, time, and location of the tank and property. Photographs must identify the following information:

      a. A photograph of the empty tank(s) with either the bottom ruptured, the tank(s) collapsed, or removed from the site;

      b. A photograph showing the clean sand or other suitable material placed inside the ruptured or collapsed tank(s);

      c. A photograph showing the tank location completely filled with clean sand or other suitable material; and

      d. At least one photograph that includes the structure or a clearly identifiable landmark to confirm the location on the property.

      9. Upon receipt of complete documentation from the contractor performing the abandonment the Department will acknowledge completion of the abandonment procedure under the general permit. No onsite inspection by the Department will be performed unless the Form DEP 4011, General Permit for System Abandonment, herein adopted and incorporated by reference in subparagraph 62-6.011(2)(a)2., F.A.C., and supporting documentation is incomplete or otherwise indicates potential noncompliance with this rule.

   2. (b) System Construction Permit. The following actions must be taken, in the order listed, to abandon an onsite sewage treatment and disposal system under a system construction permit, as issued on Form DEP 4016, incorporated by reference in subsection 62-6.003(1), F.A.C.:

      1. The property owner or agent must apply for a system construction permit from the Department to abandon the existing onsite sewage treatment and disposal system using DEP Form 4015, incorporated by reference in subsection 62-6.004(1), F.A.C., and submit the required fee. Site Evaluation and System Specifications and Existing System and Repair Evaluation of DEP Form 4015 are not required. Upon receiving a system construction permit:

      2. The tank(s) must be pumped out by a permitted septage disposal company who must provide a receipt or a written certification to the contractor performing the abandonment. Alternatively, if the tank(s) is/are empty and dry at the commencement of the abandonment, a written statement to that effect by the septage disposal company or the contractor performing the abandonment must be provided to the Department.

      3. The bottom of the tank(s) must be opened or ruptured, or the entirety of each tank collapsed to prevent the tank from retaining water.

      4. An inspection of the system abandonment must be conducted by the Department or a private provider inspector, who must provide an inspection report to the Department. The inspection report must include photographs as specified in subparagraph 62-6.011(2)(a)8., F.A.C.

      5. The tank(s) must be filled with clean sand or other suitable material and completely covered with soil. If the tank(s) cannot be ruptured or collapsed the fill material must be flowable fill concrete.

      6. Alternative to the procedures in subparagraphs 62-6.011(2)(b)3. and 5., F.A.C., the tank(s) may be removed from the site by a septage disposal service, which is required to follow the procedures in subsection 62-6.015(6), F.A.C., for spoil material. Reuse and installation of a tank at another site is only permissible if all of the following are met:

      a. The abandoned tank has a valid tank legend indicating current tank approval.

      b. The installing contractor certifies the structural integrity of the tank and provides the permit number under which the tank had been abandoned.

      c. After installation at another site, the tank must be tested and pass the water tightness test pursuant to paragraph 62-6.013(11)(d), F.A.C., and inspected by the Department or a private provider inspector for water tightness. A test report by the person conducting the water tightness test must identify who inspected the water tightness test, and must be included as part of the other construction inspection documentation as stated in subparagraph 62-6.003(2)(i)6., F.A.C.

      d. The tank passes construction inspection by the Department or private provider inspector.

3. (3) Exceptions. The permitting provisions of subparagraphs 62-6.011(2)(a)1. and 2., F.A.C., or subparagraph 62-6.011(2)(b)1., F.A.C., are not required if one of the following applies:

   1. (a) If a local utility or local plumbing authority performs a system abandonment program which requires the completion of those steps listed in subparagraphs 62-6.011(2)(a)3.-5., F.A.C., and an inspection by the local utility or local plumbing authority, the local utility or local plumbing authority performing the abandonment program must maintain a log of all inspections performed and forward the log to the Department on a monthly basis.
   2. (b) If a replacement with another onsite sewage tank is performed at the property under another system construction permit, the system construction permit application must specify information regarding the onsite sewage tank(s) that will be abandoned as part of the permitted construction. An applicant is not required to have such a tank pumped out and inspected as otherwise required by paragraph 62-6.001(4)(b), F.A.C, but must have the tank volume determined for a system construction permit application.

4. (4) A septic tank serving a single family residence may, at the owner’s discretion, be converted into a cistern pursuant to the following procedures:

   1. (a) The applicant must obtain a system abandonment construction permit from the Department.
   2. (b) The permit application must specify the intended use of the abandoned septic tank.
   3. (c) The activities related to abandoning the onsite sewage treatment and disposal system must not create a sanitary nuisance.
   4. (d) The septic tank must be disconnected from the drainfield and from the building sewer pipe.
   5. (e) All work to disconnect, clean and sanitize the septic tank must be conducted by a registered septic tank contractor, master septic tank contractor, or a state-licensed plumber or by the owner of the owner-occupied single family residence being served by the septic tank.
   6. (f) All septage, wash water, and other liquids removed from the tank must be removed and handled as septage (Rule 62-6.010, F.A.C.) by a licensed septage disposal service and disposed of at a Department-regulated wastewater treatment facility.

   7. (g) The Department must inspect the tank once it is disconnected, emptied, cleaned, disinfected and filled with water. The inspection must determine whether all of the following conditions have been met:

      1. The tank has been disconnected from the drainfield and the building sewer.

      2. The tank is full of water within 12 inches of the top of the tank.

      3. The clarity of the water is such that a Secchi disk is visible at the bottom of the tank.

      4. The pH of the water in the tank is between 6.0 and 8.0.

      5. The free chlorine residual of the water in the tank is ≤ 1.0 ppm.

      6. The total coliform count is ≤ 1000 per 100 ml.

      7. The fecal coliform count is ≤ 200 per 100 ml.

      8. No sanitary nuisance condition exists on the property related to the abandonment activities.

   8. (h) One inspection is included in the abandonment permit fee. The applicant must pay a reinspection fee for any additional inspection visits necessary until all of the criteria in subparagraphs 62-6.011(4)(g)1. through 8., F.A.C., are met and final approval of the abandonment is granted by the Department.
   9. (i) The applicant is responsible for all required laboratory fees. All sampling must be conducted by Department staff during the final inspection.
   10. (j) The septic tank must be converted and inspected within 90 days after connection of the building plumbing to the sanitary sewer.
   11. (k) The tank must not be connected to any irrigation components nor can the water be used for irrigation purposes until final approval of the abandonment has been granted by the Department.
   12. (l) Upon final approval of the abandonment, use of the tank or the drainfield for sewage storage, treatment or disposal is prohibited and constitutes a nuisance injurious to health as defined by Section 386.041, F.S.
   13. (m) Upon final approval of the abandonment, the water collected in the tank must be utilized for non-potable, irrigation purposes only.

Rulemaking Authority 381.0065 FS. Law Implemented 381.0065, 381.0066, 386.041 FS. History–New 12-22-82, Amended 2-5-85, Formerly 10D-6.53, Amended 3-17-92, 1-3-95, Formerly 10D-6.053, Amended 6-18-03, 6-25-09, 7-16-13, Formerly 64E-6.011, Amended 6-8-26.