25.0988.02003
Title.03000
Adopted by the House Energy and
Natural Resources Committee
Sixty-ninth
April 11, 2025
Legislative Assembly
of North Dakota
Introduced by
Senators Myrdal, Klein, Magrum
Representatives K. Anderson, Koppelman
A BILL for an Act to create and enact three new sections to chapter 43-18a new chapter to
title 23.1 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to onsite wastewater treatment systems; to
amend and reenact section 43-18-24sections 23-35-02 and 23-35-08 of the North Dakota
Century Code, relating to onsite wastewater treatment system violationsthe powers and duties
of the boards of health and public health units; to repeal sections 23-35-02.2 and 23-35-02.3 of
the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the onsite wastewater recycling technical
committee; to provide for a legislative management report; and to provide a penalty; and to
provide an appropriation.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF NORTH DAKOTA:
SECTION 1. AMENDMENT. Section 43-18-24 of the North Dakota Century Code is
amended and reenacted as follows:
43-18-24. Violation of chapter - Penalty.
Any person that violates the state plumbing code adopted under section 43-18-09; violates
section 43-18-10, 43-18-11, 43-18-11.4, 43-18-17.2, or 43-18-23; or works under the license of
another person in a manner that is in violation of section 43-18-13, or installs or services an
onsite wastewater sewage treatment system without being licensed under this chapter is guilty
of a class B misdemeanor.
SECTION 2. A new section to chapter 43-18 of the North Dakota Century Code is created
and enacted as follows:
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ENGROSSED SENATE BILL NO. 2267
FIRST ENGROSSMENT
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO
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Standards for onsite wastewater sewage treatment system installation, servicing,
and inspection - Adoption of rules.
1. The board shall establish rules relating to the permitting and licensing for onsite
wastewater sewage treatment systems.
2. The board shall establish standards and procedures for issuing, renewing, denying,
suspending, or revoking a permit or license to install, service, or inspect an onsite
wastewater sewage treatment system.
3. Onsite wastewater sewage treatment system installation, servicing, and inspection
must comply with the rules adopted by the board.
4. The board may not contract with a local public health unit to inspect an onsite
wastewater sewage treatment system.
SECTION 3. A new section to chapter 43-18 of the North Dakota Century Code is created
and enacted as follows:
Appeal to department of environmental quality.
An action of the board denying, modifying, or revoking a permit to install, service, or inspect
a wastewater sewage treatment system or an action of the board denying or revoking a license
may be appealed to the department of environmental quality by petition for review. The appeal
must be filed with the department of environmental quality within ten days of receiving notice
from the board. Upon receipt of the petition, the department of environmental quality shall
review the appealed decision and if it appears the permit or license was not issued or the
license was improperly revoked in accordance with the provisions of this chapter and rule
adopted by the board, the department may issue the permit or license.
SECTION 4. A new section to chapter 43-18 of the North Dakota Century Code is created
and enacted as follows:
License required.
1. An individual may not engage in the business of installing or servicing an onsite
wastewater sewage treatment system unless licensed by the board. To remain
licensed in good standing, an installer shall comply with this chapter and any rules
adopted by the board.
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2. An individual is exempt from the licensing requirements of this chapter if the individual is
installing an onsite wastewater sewage treatment system on the individual's premises for the
individual's use.
SECTION 1. AMENDMENT. Section 23-35-02 of the North Dakota Century Code is
amended and reenacted as follows:
23-35-02. Public health units - Core functions.
1.All land in the state must be in a public health unit.
2.At a minimum, a public health unit shall provide the following core functions:
a.Communicable disease control, which must include:
(1)Conducting of disease surveillance for the purpose of preventing and
controlling communicable disease, with assistance from the department.
(2)Assurance of the availability of community-based programs to provide
communicable disease prevention and control services.
(3)Recognition, identification, and response to a communicable disease event,
in collaboration with the department.
b.Chronic disease and injury prevention, which must include conducting programs
to reduce the burden of chronic disease and injury through policy, system, and
environmental change approach; prevention screening; and education.
c.Environmental public health, which must include:
(1)Prevention of environmental hazards by the provision of information and
education to facility operators and managers and to community members.
(2)Assurance of the availability of environmental health services to prevent and
respond to community and residential environmental hazards.
(3) Permitting and inspections of onsite wastewater treatment systems in
accordance with section 3 of this Act. A public health unit shall conduct a
required in-person or virtual inspection of an onsite wastewater system
within one business day of receiving the request for the inspection. A public
health unit may enter a cooperative agreement with a county or city for the
permitting and inspection of onsite wastewater treatment systems within the
boundaries of the county or city. A cooperative agreement may be
terminated as provided in the agreement, by joint action of all parties, or by
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an individual party no less than one year after providing written notice to the
other party.
d.Maternal, child, and family health, which must include:
(1)Assessment and monitoring of maternal and child health status to identify
and address problems.
(2)Implementation of programs to promote the health of women, children, and
youth, and their families, through policy, system, and environmental change
approaches; prevention screenings; and education.
e.Access to clinical care, which must include:
(1)Collaboration with health care system partners to foster access to clinical
care.
(2)Facilitation of linkages and referrals for appropriate clinical care, services,
and resources.
SECTION 2. AMENDMENT. Section 23-35-08 of the North Dakota Century Code is
amended and reenacted as follows:
23-35-08. Boards of health - Powers and duties.
Except when in conflict with a local ordinance or a civil service rule within a board of
health's jurisdiction, or a tribal code, ordinance, or policy, each board of health:
1.Shall keep records and make reports required by the department.
2.Shall prepare and submit a public health unit budget.
3.Shall audit, allow, and certify for payment expenses incurred by a board of health in
carrying into effect this chapter.
4.May accept and expend any gift, grant, donation, or other contribution offered to aid in
the work of the board of health or public health unit.
5.May make rules regarding any nuisance, source of filth, and any cause of sickness
which are necessary for public health and safety, except rules regarding the licensing
of onsite wastewater treatment system installers.
6.May establish by rule a schedule of reasonable fees that may be charged for services
rendered. Services may not be withheld due to an inability to pay any fees established
under this subsection. If a tribal board of health establishes fees for services rendered,
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the fees may not exceed the highest corresponding fee of any of the public health
units that border the tribal public health unit.
7.May make rules in a health district or county public health department, as the case
may be, and in the case of a city public health department may recommend to the
city's governing body ordinances for the protection of public health and safety.
8.May adopt confinement, decontamination, and sanitary measures in compliance with
chapter 23-07.6 which are necessary when an infectious or contagious disease exists.
9.May make and enforce an order in a local matter if an emergency exists.
10.May inquire into any nuisance, source of filth, or cause of sickness.
11.Except in the case of an emergency, may conduct a search or seize material located
on private property to ascertain the condition of the property as the condition relates to
public health and safety as authorized by an administrative search warrant issued
under chapter 29-29.1.
12.May abate or remove any nuisance, source of filth, or cause of sickness when
necessary to protect the public health and safety.
13.May supervise any matter relating to preservation of life and health of individuals,
including the supervision of any water supply and sewage system.
14.May isolate, kill, or remove any animal affected with a contagious or infectious disease
if the animal poses a material risk to human health and safety.
15.Shall appoint a local health officer.
16.May employ any person necessary to effectuate board rules and this chapter.
17.If a public health unit is served by a part-time local health officer, the board of health
may appoint an executive director. An executive director is subject to removal for
cause by the board of health. The board of health may assign to the executive director
the duties of the local health officer, and the executive director shall perform these
duties under the direction of the local health officer.
18.May contract with any person to provide the services necessary to carry out the
purposes of the board of health.
19.Shall designate the location of a local health officer's office and shall furnish the office
with necessary equipment.
20.May provide for personnel the board of health considers necessary.
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21.Shall set the salary of the local health officer, the executive director, and any assistant
local health officer and shall set the compensation of any other public health unit
personnel.
22.Shall pay for necessary travel of the local health officer, the local health officer's
assistants, and other personnel in the manner and to the extent determined by the
board.
SECTION 3. A new chapter to title 23.1 of the North Dakota Century Code is created and
enacted as follows:
Definitions.
For the purposes of this chapter:
1. "Department" means the department of environmental quality.
2. "Install" means to place or replace a part of an onsite waster treatment system,
whether new or existing, to make it ready for use.
3. "License" means authorization by the department for an individual to engage in the
business of installing an onsite wastewater treatment system.
4. "Onsite wastewater treatment system" means a wastewater treatment system or part
thereof, serving a dwelling or building, or group thereof, which uses soil treatment and
disposal. The term commonly may be known as a septic system.
5. "Permit" means authorization from a local public health unit or other political
subdivision to install an onsite wastewater treatment system, in accordance with the
specific site and rules adopted under this title.
Septic systems - Authority.
1. Except as otherwise provided by law, the department has the exclusive authority to
adopt rules regarding licensing, permitting, and inspections of onsite wastewater
treatment systems.
2. The department shall provide technical assistance and guidance to municipalities and
local public health units on all matters related to onsite wastewater treatment systems.
3. An ordinance enacted or adopted by a county or city in accordance with a home rule
charter, or an ordinance enacted or adopted by any other political subdivision, in
conflict with a rule adopted under this section is void.
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Licensing.
1. An individual may not engage in the business of installing an onsite wastewater
treatment system unless the individual is licensed. To remain licensed in good
standing, a licensee shall comply with this chapter and any rules adopted under this
title.
2. An individual is exempt from the licensing requirements of this chapter if the individual
is installing an onsite wastewater sewage treatment system on the individual's
premises for the individual's use.
3. The department shall establish rules for the issuance, expiration, and renewal of
licenses.
4. The department may revoke or suspend a license issued under this chapter if:
a. The licensee practices fraud or deception in obtaining the license or in the
individual's performance of a licensed activity;
b. Reasonable care, judgment, or the application of the licensee's knowledge or
ability is not used in the performance of the licensee's duties; or
c. The licensee violates a state or federal environmental law, rule, standard, or
permit when performing a licensed activity.
5. A license may not be revoked or suspended except after a hearing before the director
of the department, or the director's designated representative. If a license is
suspended or revoked, a new application for licensure may be considered by the
department only after the conditions causing the suspension or revocation have been
corrected, and evidence of this fact is submitted to the satisfaction of the department.
Standards for onsite wastewater treatment systems - Installation - Inspection.
1. The department shall establish rules relating to permitting onsite wastewater treatment
systems.
2. The department may prescribe by rule a process for obtaining variances for existing
nonconforming or nonfunctional onsite wastewater treatment systems. The process
shall consider the:
a. Environmental impact;
b. Impact to public health;
c. Cost of compliance; and
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d. Least restrictive means.
3. Onsite wastewater sewage treatment system installation and inspections must comply
with the rules adopted in accordance with this title.
Appeal to the department.
1. An action of a political subdivision denying, modifying, or revoking a permit to install an
onsite wastewater treatment system may be appealed to the department by petition for
review. The appeal must be filed with the department within ten days of receiving
notice of the denial, modification, or revocation.
2. Upon receipt of the petition, the department shall review the appealed decision and
the petition to determine whether the denial, modification, or revocation was made in
accordance with the provisions of this title and rules. The department shall provide its
findings and recommendation to the political subdivision, the licensed installer, and the
owner of the property where the proposed onsite wastewater treatment system is
located.
Fees.
The department may provide for the payment and collection of reasonable fees for the
issuance of licenses for onsite wastewater system installers by rule. The license fees must be
based on the anticipated cost of filing and processing the application, taking action on the
requested license, and conducting an oversight program to determine compliance or
noncompliance with the license. Any moneys collected for licensing fees must be deposited in
the department operating fund in the state treasury and any expenditure from the fund is subject
to appropriation by the legislative assembly.
Enforcement.
1. An individual who violates a provision of this chapter or any rule, standard, order, or
permit condition adopted in accordance with this chapter is subject to a civil penalty
not to exceed twelve thousand five hundred dollars per violation.
2. An individual who willfully makes a false statement, false representation, or false
certification in an application, record, report, plan, or other applicable requirement
implementing this chapter or that falsifies, tampers with, or willfully renders inaccurate
any monitoring device or sample, is subject to a civil penalty not to exceed five
thousand dollars per violation.
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Administrative procedure and judicial review.
1. A proceeding under this chapter to adopt or modify rules relating to licensing
individuals for the installation or servicing of onsite wastewater treatment systems, or
for determining compliance with rules of the department, must be conducted in
accordance with the provisions of chapter 28-32.
2. An appeal of a decision issued under subsection 1, must be conducted in accordance
with the provisions of chapter 28-32.
SECTION 4. REPEAL. Sections 23-35-02.2 and 23-35-02.3 of the North Dakota Century
Code are repealed.
SECTION 5. APPROPRIATION - DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY -
ONE-TIME FUNDING - REPORT. There is appropriated out of any moneys in the general fund
in the state treasury, not otherwise appropriated, the sum of $99,500, or so much of the sum as
may be necessary, to the department of environmental quality for the purpose of regulation of
onsite wastewater treatment systems, for the biennium beginning July 1, 2025, and ending
June 30, 2027. The department shall provide a report to the legislative management prior to
August 1, 2026. The appropriation in this section is considered a one-time funding item.
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