Cobb County Septic Permits: Fees, Assistance Programs, and 2027 Changes

Sourced from Cobb & Douglas Public Health published fee schedule and program documentation, and Cobb County government announcements — last checked July 2026.

Who Issues Cobb Septic Permits

Cobb County Environmental Health: 1738 County Services Parkway, 2nd Floor, Marietta, GA 30008
Phone: 770-435-7815
Online payments: cobb.healthinspections.us

Cobb Septic Fees

These figures are current as of July 2026. Cobb & Douglas Public Health has announced a new Environmental Health fee schedule effective January 1, 2027 — if your project runs into next year, confirm which schedule applies.

The Existing System Evaluation — Useful for Home Sales

Cobb’s $150 existing system evaluation is a visual assessment with no permit attached. It’s the practical option when a lender wants proof a system functions, or when you’re weighing a remodel that adds bedrooms. Considerably cheaper than a full Performance Evaluation Report, though not every lender accepts it — verify with yours first.

Cobb’s Septic Assistance Program

Cobb & Douglas Public Health administers an ARPA-funded Low-Income Septic System Pump/Repair Project:

Up to $500 for tank pumping, based on the actual cost of service.
Up to $15,000 for repairs, including drain-field replacement, and up to $10,000 to connect to public sewer if an inspection shows work is needed. Those are two different ceilings — a sewer tie-in is capped lower than a repair.

The subsidy is paid directly to a certified service provider, so you are not asked to front the money and claim it back. Two costs that normally fall on the homeowner are also covered. Cobb & Douglas states: “If a soil study isn’t already on file with our department, we will provide the soil report.” In Georgia a Level 3 soil report from a certified classifier is otherwise a required private expense. The inspection itself is part of the Environmental Health Specialist’s property visit.

The application windows are not the same as the program end date:

• Repairs, up to $15,000 — closed — the deadline was 21 August 2026
• Tank pumping, up to $500 — closed — the deadline was 4 September 2026
• Water-bill credit — open — applications close 22 September 2026
• All work must be completed by 30 September 2026

Eligible services run from March 26, 2025 through September 30, 2026, or until grant funds are exhausted — the money can run out before those dates.

Who qualifies. Gross household income at or below 300% of the current year’s Federal Poverty Level. Cobb & Douglas gives the worked example: a household of four in 2026 qualifies at $99,000 or less. You may also qualify without income documents if the household already receives SNAP, WIC, TANF or Medicaid, and if no verification is available at all they accept a self-certification of income. Owner-occupied primary residences only — rentals and commercial properties are excluded, and the home must be located in Cobb County.

Douglas County residents: applications for this project are no longer accepted in Douglas County. Cobb & Douglas states that heavy demand exhausted the available funding there.

Apply online or by printed form through Cobb & Douglas Public Health, 770-435-7815. Confirm availability before relying on it — this is grant money with a hard stop.

Cobb Soil Reality

Cobb sits squarely on Piedmont red clay. Multiple sources note that in parts of Cobb, DeKalb, and Gwinnett, small lots combined with tight soils mean engineered designs are now the norm rather than the exception. Budget accordingly — a conventional gravity system may simply not be permittable on your lot.

If you’re weighing sewer instead, Cobb County Water System is at 770-419-6200.