FL H1425

Repeals section 381.00651 and creates section 381.00653 to establish a mandatory periodic inspection program for onsite sewage treatment and disposal systems that are more than 5 years old, effective July 1, 2025.

Requires inspections at least once every 5 years to assess fundamental operational condition and identify system failures, with county-by-county phased implementation over 10 years prioritizing areas within basin management action plans.

Inspections must be performed by qualified contractors including registered septic tank contractors, licensed professional engineers with wastewater experience, or certified environmental health professionals, with all inspection forms signed by a qualified contractor.

System owners are responsible for paying all inspection and pumpout costs and cannot request partial inspections or omission of inspection portions; the Department of Environmental Protection may develop a fee schedule to cover program administration costs.

Department must provide owners 60-day notice before inspections are due, establish disciplinary procedures and penalties for non-compliant contractors, and maintain that inspections assess fundamental operational condition only, not code compliance or system adequacy for future use.