SESSION WATCH
Superseded — its companion passed SENATE · SESSION 2026

No. CS/CS/SB 698

Onsite Sewage Treatment and Disposal System Permits
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SPONSOR
Rules; Environment and Natural Resources; Martin
FILED BY
Jonathan Martin — District 33, Republican [search donations]
EFFECTIVE
Except as expressly provided in this act, this act shall take effect upon becoming a law
COMPANION
CS/CS/CS/HB 589 — CS/CS/SB 698 was set aside and its companion carried the policy

Filed under Healthcare.

PROVIDED SUMMARY

Onsite Sewage Treatment and Disposal System Permits; Prohibiting a municipality or political subdivision of the state from requiring owners and builders of certain residences to receive construction permits from the Department of Environmental Protection as a condition of issuing building or plumbing permits; requiring such owners and builders to provide certain proof to the municipality or political subdivision; requiring an applicant for a permit for the construction of an onsite sewage treatment and disposal system or a property owner to assume specified liabilities under certain circumstances, etc.

Full bill text →

Plain English Summary

AI-GENERATED
Lets single-family builders get permits before septic approval, at their own risk.

For a single-family home needing a septic system, a city or county can no longer withhold the building or plumbing permit until the state issues its septic construction permit -- proof that the application was filed is now enough.

If the septic system itself gets built before the state actually approves the permit, the property owner or applicant takes on all the legal, financial, and safety liability for it alone.

Starting July 1, 2026, a newly adopted rule on septic system use or installation cannot be enforced against permit applications filed within 90 days after the rule takes effect.

KEY PROVISIONS
§ 1 Bars conditioning single-family building permits on a DEP septic permit majors. 381.0065(4)

AIFor single-family homes needing an onsite sewage system, a municipality or county may no longer require the owner or builder to have already received the state's septic construction permit before issuing the local building or plumbing permit.

“a municipality or political subdivision of the state may not require the owner or builder to receive a construction permit from the department” bill text, line 65 →
§ 2 Requires only proof of a submitted septic application, not an issued permit majors. 381.0065(4)

AIIn place of the state permit itself, the owner or builder need only show the municipality that a septic system application was submitted at the time of applying for the building and plumbing permit.

“must provide to a municipality or political subdivision proof that the owner or builder submitted an application for the onsite sewage treatment and disposal system” bill text, line 86 →
§ 3 Puts all liability on the owner if septic work starts early majors. 381.0065(4)

AIIf the septic system is built before the department actually issues its construction permit, the property owner or applicant, not the municipality or the state, bears all legal, financial, and safety liability that results.

“the property owner or the applicant must assume all legal, financial, and safety liabilities arising therefrom” bill text, line 93 →
§ 4 Shields pending applications from new septic rules for 90 days moderates. 381.0065(10)

AIStarting July 1, 2026, a newly adopted department rule on septic system use or installation cannot be applied against a permit application filed within 90 days after that rule's adoption date.

“does not apply to permit applications submitted within 90 days after the date such rule is adopted” bill text, line 680 →
TIMELINE
3/11/2026
Laid on Table, companion bill(s) passed, see CS/CS/CS/HB 589 (Ch....
3/11/2026
Substituted CS/CS/CS/HB 589 -SJ 756
3/11/2026
Read 2nd time -SJ 756
3/9/2026
Placed on Special Order Calendar, 03/11/26
2/25/2026
CS/CS by Rules read 1st time
2/25/2026
Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading
2/25/2026
Pending reference review -under Rule 4.7(2) - (Committee Substitute)
2/24/2026
CS/CS by- Rules; YEAS 22 NAYS 0
2/19/2026
On Committee agenda-- Rules, 02/24/26, 12:00 pm, 412 Knott Building
2/4/2026
Now in Rules
2/3/2026
Favorable by Community Affairs; YEAS 8 NAYS 0
1/29/2026
On Committee agenda-- Community Affairs, 02/03/26, 3:30 pm, 37...
1/22/2026
CS by Environment and Natural Resources read 1st time
1/22/2026
Now in Community Affairs
1/21/2026
Pending reference review under Rule 4.7(2) - (Committee Substitute)
1/20/2026
CS by Environment and Natural Resources; YEAS 7 NAYS 1
1/15/2026
On Committee agenda-- Environment and Natural Resources, 01/20/26,...
1/13/2026
Introduced
12/16/2025
Referred to Environment and Natural Resources; Community Affairs; Rules
12/2/2025
Filed
14 EARLIER →
STATUTES IT CHANGES
s. 381.0065
+183 / −33
s. 381.0065
+44 / −0
s. 380.0552
+12 / −12
s. 381.00651
+2 / −2
STAFF ANALYSES
2 MORE →