Septic inspections for Arizona home sales

Selling a home on septic in Arizona? State rules require an inspection by a qualified inspector within six months before the sale. A local contractor can schedule it around your closing date.

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What Arizona requires

1. The seller hires a qualified inspector within six months before the property transfers.
2. Each tank is pumped as completely as possible, unless one of the rule's exceptions applies. The inspector checks the system's physical and operational condition and fills out a Report of Inspection.
3. The seller gives the buyer the report before closing, along with any permit, operation and maintenance records for the system.
4. The buyer files a Notice of Transfer within 15 calendar days after closing. In Maricopa County it can be filed online through the county's Permit Center, and the fee is $60 per parcel.

Who can do a septic inspection in Arizona?

Arizona rule R18-9-A316 sets the qualifications. The inspector needs working knowledge of the type of system being inspected, a training certificate from an ADEQ-recognized course, and one of the following:

• Registration as an Arizona engineer or sanitarian
• Ownership of, or employment with the owner of, a licensed septic pumping truck
• A Registrar of Contractors license in a listed category, such as C-41, A-12 or B-4
• Certification as a wastewater treatment plant operator

Ask whoever you hire which qualification they hold. A contractor who also pumps can do the pump-out and the inspection in one visit.

What the report covers

• The physical and operational condition of the system
• Any deficiencies found, and any repairs completed
• Whether each tank was pumped, or the allowed reason it wasn't
• The date of the inspection

Timing tips for sellers and agents

• Book early in escrow. If the inspection turns up a problem, you want time to get repair quotes.
• The report is good for six months before the transfer, so an inspection done for a listing can carry through to closing if the sale happens in that window.
• If the system has an aerobic unit or other alternative design, make sure the inspector has worked on that type before.

What it costs

Because the tank is normally pumped as part of the inspection, expect to pay more than for a pump-out alone. Ask for a flat quote that includes pumping, the inspection and the report. The county's $60 Notice of Transfer fee is separate and is the buyer's to file.

For the full walkthrough, read Arizona septic inspections for home sales.

Reviewed by August Heckmann. Last reviewed October 9, 2026. How we check our information.