SEPTIC TANKS.

Dallas City Code ch. 19, art. VI

in effect

Dallas City Code § 19-86 DEFINITIONS.

SEC. 19-86. DEFINITIONS. In this article: (1) CESSPOOL means a covered excavation which receives the discharge of raw domestic sewage or other organic wastes and is designed to retain the organic matter and solids, but permit the liquids to seep through the bottom and sides. (2) DIRECTOR means the director of the department designated by the city manager to enforce and administer this article or the director’s designated representative. (3) PERSON means any natural person, corporation, organization, estate, trust, partnership, association, or similar entity. (4) PRIVATE SEWAGE FACILITY means any facility or method used for disposal of sewage that serves only an individual household or establishment and appurtenant structures, and the operation and maintenance of which is the sole responsibility of the householder or owner of the establishment’s facilities. (5) SEPTIC TANK means a water-tight, covered receptacle designed and constructed to (1) receive the discharge of sewage from a building sewer, (2) separate solids from the liquid, (3) digest organic matter under anaerobic conditions, (4) store digested solids through a period of detention, and (5) allow the clarified liquids to discharge for final disposal. (6) SEWAGE means any liquid waste containing animal or vegetable matter in suspension or solution, including liquids containing chemicals in solution, domestic wastewater, and laundry wastes. (Ord. Nos. 7821; 15655; 17226)

Dallas City Code § 19-87 PERMIT REQUIRED.

SEC. 19-87. PERMIT REQUIRED. (a) A person commits an offense if he installs a septic tank or any other form of private sewage facility in the city, or where water is furnished by the city, without a permit. (b) No permit for a private sewage facility will be issued if the location is within 100 feet of an existing city sanitary sewer system, unless an exception is granted by the director on the grounds that connection with the sanitary sewer is impossible. (c) If the city sanitary sewer system is extended to serve an area that is served by private sewage facilities, a person commits an offense if he fails to connect to the city system within one year of the date the city sewer system is available. If a private facility malfunctions seriously and overflows prior to the expiration of one year, connection to the city system must be made immediately. (Ord. Nos. 7821; 15655)

Dallas City Code § 19-88 APPLICATION FOR PERMIT; FEE; PERCOLATION TEST.

SEC. 19-88. APPLICATION FOR PERMIT; FEE; PERCOLATION TEST. Application for a septic tank permit must be made to the building official. The fee for a septic tank permit is $100, and the fee shall be accompanied by: (1) plans and specifications of the proposed septic tank; and (2) the results of a valid percolation test complying with rules and regulations for the conducting of percolation tests which shall be promulgated by the building official. (Ord. Nos. 7821; 15655; 18969)

Dallas City Code § 19-89 APPROVAL OF PLANS BY THE DIRECTOR BEFORE ISSUANCE OF PERMIT.

SEC. 19-89. APPROVAL OF PLANS BY THE DIRECTOR BEFORE ISSUANCE OF PERMIT. A permit for the installation of a septic tank shall be issued only after approval of the plans and specifications by the director, and assurance that the plans meet the requirements of the construction standards as contained in Sec. 19-90 of this article. (Ord. Nos. 7821; 15655)

Dallas City Code § 19-90 CONSTRUCTION STANDARDS.

SEC. 19-90. CONSTRUCTION STANDARDS. The specifications for the construction of a septic tank shall be those published in the most recent edition of “Construction Standards for Private Sewage Facilities,” issued by the Texas Department of Health Resources, as it may be amended from time to time. Those standards, currently Rule Numbers 301.79.03. 001-003 of the Texas Department of Health Resources, are promulgated under the authority of Texas Civil Statutes, Art. 4477-1 (1976). (Ord. Nos. 7821; 15655)

Dallas City Code § 19-91 INSPECTION.

SEC. 19-91. INSPECTION. Before the septic tank system is covered, the permit holder shall notify the director and allow the director to inspect the system. The director shall ascertain that the tanks, connections, and other materials are constructed in accordance with the applicable construction standards. (Ord. Nos. 7821; 15655)

Dallas City Code § 19-92 TANKS NOT TO BE OFFENSIVE.

SEC. 19-92. TANKS NOT TO BE OFFENSIVE. A person commits an offense if he allows a septic tank or other private sewage facility within the city, or within 3000 feet of the corporate limits of the city, to become foul, offensive, or nauseating, or in any way drain to the surface of the ground, so as to become injurious to the public health. (Ord. Nos. 7821; 15655)

Dallas City Code § 19-93 CESSPOOLS.

SEC. 19-93. CESSPOOLS. A person commits an offense if he deposits sewage into a cesspool anywhere within the corporate limits of the city. (Ord. Nos. 7821; 15655)

Source: City of Dallas, Dallas City Code and City Charter (American Legal Publishing, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/dallas/latest/dallas_tx/0-0-0-144088Fetched: 10/26/2026