Live outside the city sewer lines and the septic tank is yours to look after. In La Plata County, two sets of rules apply. The EPA gives the advice on pumping. The county decides who may do the work and when a home sale triggers an inspection.
How often should you pump a septic tank?
The EPA says the average household system should be inspected at least every three years by a septic professional. Household tanks are typically pumped every three to five years (EPA). Four things push the interval one way or the other: household size, total wastewater, the volume of solids and the tank size.
The EPA also lists the signs that a tank is due:
| What the pumper measures | Pump when |
|---|---|
| Scum layer | Its bottom is within 6 inches of the bottom of the outlet |
| Sludge layer | Its top is within 12 inches of the outlet |
| Sludge and scum combined | They are more than 25% of the liquid depth |
Have the pumper write down the levels each visit, so next time you can compare. Mechanical parts change the schedule. With pumps or float switches in the system, the EPA says to inspect more often, generally once a year.
Who regulates septic systems in Durango?
La Plata County Public Health runs the septic program for the whole county. Its formal term is on-site wastewater treatment system, and the page is on the county site. The Board of Health adopted new regulations in January 2026, effective March 2, 2026. Anyone who builds, alters or repairs a system needs a permit. Send paperwork to eh@lpcgov.org. The office is open Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and the phone is 970-247-5702.
If your home is on a municipal sewer line, none of this applies to you.
Who is allowed to pump your tank?
Only a licensed cleaner. Under the county's 2026 regulations, nobody may clean a system or haul septage unless they hold a Systems Cleaner License from the county or work for a licensed cleaner. Licenses expire every third year. Cleaners must dispose of septage at a domestic wastewater treatment works. Ask any company for its license number before you book.
Local companies in our directory include Mountain Septic on S Skylane Drive, rated 4.9 across 603 Google reviews, and Southwest Septic on Main Avenue, rated 4.9 across 65.
Do you need an inspection when you sell?
Usually, yes. Most properties served by a septic system must have an inspection before sale, and the seller applies for a Continued Use Permit from Public Health. The permit replaces the old Transfer of Title program. The application must include a tank inspection report from the past 12 months, with a pumping receipt when the inspection calls for pumping. The county's regulations list who is exempt. One example is a system installed and approved less than four years before closing.
If the seller does not get the permit, the buyer must. So if you are shopping for a rural home, ask early whether the septic system has a permit and when it was last inspected.
Does a vacation rental change the math?
It can. La Plata County asks owners who rent homes short term to confirm with Public Health that the system has enough capacity for rental use (La Plata County.php)). Extra guests mean extra flow. See the rules in our answer on short-term rentals in Durango.
Planning to alter the system? Alterations need a county permit, and some building work needs one too, so read do you need a building permit in Durango. For the bigger picture of owning a home here, read the Durango home services guide. Browse every septic system service in the directory too.