Subdivision of Land

Any proposed new lot must contain a minimum 2.0 acres of usable area that contains soils suitable for the installation of a sewage treatment system. Usable acreage means a contiguous area of land which is not divided or limited by a waterway, easement, right-of-way, or other site or soil limitation affecting the installation of an on-site sewage treatment system.  Usable acreage cannot include:

• Any area designated as a floodway or within a designated 100-year flood plain.

• Any wetland

• Any area within the sanitary isolation radius of a public water system (300 feet).

• Soil and site conditions that prohibit installation of a sewage treatment system, including:

  • exposed bedrock, boulders, stones, gravel, and coarse sand at or above the surface of the ground or underlain within a foot of the surface.

  • slopes in excess of 15%

  • filled or disturbed areas where soil and site conditions may not be adequate to provide treatment and/or dispersal.

The Fairfield Department of Health uses information from the Order 1 soil survey to determine the location of sewage treatment systems for each proposed lot.  Subsequently, the location of proposed lot lines must accommodate these locations to ensure that the proposed lot can be developed in compliance with Fairfield Department of Health sewage treatment system regulations..

The Fairfield Department of Health will perform on-site evaluations of existing deeded lots to determine whether the lot can be developed for commercial or residential use.  An Order 1 soil survey is required for the lot, but there is not a minimum acreage requirement for an existing lot to be evaluated.  If you are interested in a lot that is less than 2.0 acres, please contact the Fairfield Department of Health before purchase to ensure that the lot can be properly developed.

In addition, a lot inspection and approval is required whenever a new home is connected to an existing sewage treatment system.  For example, when an existing home burns down a new home is to be built, a lot inspection must be completed before construction begins on the replacement home.

Subdivision of Land/Lot Inspection Procedure

1. The proposed lot(s) must be marked with the address or owner/applicant's name so that the property can be readily identified from the street.

2. The proposed lot(s) must be marked or flagged with a material that is clearly visible when walking the lot (i.e. staked and flagged with bright colored ribbon)

3. Vegetation on the lot(s) must be mowed/cut to ankle level.  Lots with high grass, brush, or crops cannot be adequately inspected.  For wooded lots, only underbrush must be removed.

Note: Additional fees for re-inspections may be charged if the the proposed lots are not properly marked or cleared.

4. An Order 1 soil survey must be completed by a registered soil site evaluator.  Order 1 soil surveys cannot be faxed - an original copy is required.

5. A letter regarding sanitary sewer accessibility must be acquired from the Fairfield County Utility Office (740-687-7154) or governing municipality of the nearest sanitary sewer district.

6. A completed application and fee must be submitted to Fairfield Department of Health along with the completed Order 1 soil survey.  The fee for a lot split is $118.00 per lot.  Note: If the remainder is currently and will continue to be used only for agricultural purposes, it does not need to be inspected and the fee does not apply to the remainder.  The fee also does not apply to a remainder parcel that includes an existing residence, but soil analysis is still require for a replacement sewage treatment system.