Rules & Regulations
Is My Septic Tank Compliant?
How to work out whether your septic tank meets the General Binding Rules, and what to do next if you're not sure.
In short: the fastest way to get a general answer is to check where your septic tank discharges. If it goes to a properly designed drainage field, you’re very likely compliant. If it discharges directly to a ditch, stream, pond or other watercourse, it very likely isn’t — unless you hold a specific permit.
Three questions that tell you most of what you need to know
1. Where does the wastewater go after it leaves the tank? A drainage field/soakaway is the compliant default under the General Binding Rules. Direct discharge to any watercourse is the main red flag.
2. Is the drainage field working properly? Wet, boggy ground above the field, or effluent visibly pooling on the surface, suggests the field has failed — which can itself become a compliance issue even where the original design was sound.
3. Has anything changed since installation? An extension adding bedrooms, a change of use (like a new holiday let), or a boundary change can all affect whether a previously compliant system still is.
What to do if you think it isn’t compliant
- Don’t panic — non-compliance is common, particularly in older properties, and there’s a clear path to resolving it.
- Get an independent specialist assessment to confirm the position and your options.
- Understand your options: a drainage field installation, an upgrade to a treatment plant, or a permit application.
- If you’re selling, be transparent — see septic tank rules when selling a house.
See our full guide to non-compliant septic tanks for what typically happens next.
Can I check compliance myself without a specialist? + −
You can get a reasonable first indication — particularly around discharge point — but only a site visit can confirm drainage field condition, permit status and sizing against current occupancy.
Is an old septic tank automatically non-compliant? + −
No. Age alone isn't the issue — a well-maintained older tank discharging to a working drainage field can be perfectly compliant. It's the discharge arrangement and field condition that matter most.
Does a septic tank need an annual compliance certificate? + −
There's no routine annual compliance certificate under the General Binding Rules for standard drainage-field discharge, but permits (where required) can carry their own conditions and reporting requirements.
Sources
- Environment Agency — General binding rules: small sewage discharges to the environment