How do you check if a septic installer or pumper is licensed in Tennessee?

Hiring for septic work in Johnson City? Check the list first, then call (423) 830-2809 with your questions. Serving Johnson City and Washington County.

How do you search TDEC's list, step by step?

1. Open TDEC's Licensed Installers and Pumpers page and follow the link to the Installers and Pumpers DataViewer.
2. Narrow it by county. Start with the county where the work will happen, like Washington.
3. For installers, narrow by permit type. TDEC says the installer search can be filtered by the type of permit held.
4. Match the business name exactly. Compare it to the name on your estimate, contract and truck. A similar name isn't the same company.
5. Check that it's current. Permits run for a calendar year, so a listing you saw last year doesn't settle it.

Can't find them? Ask the contractor for the exact name their permit is under, then search again. If it still doesn't show up, contact TDEC (details below) before anyone digs.

What's the difference between an installer permit and a pumper permit?

They're separate permits under separate rules. A company that only pumps tanks isn't automatically permitted to rebuild your drain field.

Why do conventional and alternative installer permits matter?

According to TDEC, every installer must carry a valid Conventional Permit, and some also hold permits for alternative systems. If your lot's soil means the system has to be something other than a standard tank and trench field, that difference matters. Look at what your construction permit calls for, then check that the installer's listing includes that permit type. How construction permits work is covered in our guide to TDEC permits in Washington County.

What rules sit behind the list?

Under Rule .19, an installer permit:

• Requires passing a state test with a score of at least 70 percent. TDEC can waive the retest for an installer who held a permit the previous year and did satisfactory work.
• Lasts one calendar year. It expires on December 31 after it's issued.
• Can't be transferred or assigned. It automatically becomes invalid when the business changes ownership, or if the permit is suspended or revoked.

Rule .20 sets the same annual term and no-transfer limits for pumping permits.

Where the permit is good matters too. TDEC says installer permits are valid statewide, not just in the counties listed. Nine contract counties run their own septic programs and may require an additional permit: Blount, Davidson, Hamilton, Jefferson, Knox, Madison, Sevier, Shelby and Williamson. Washington, Carter and Sullivan aren't on that list.

How can you check a pump truck?

Look at the truck itself. Rule .20 says every vehicle used for septage removal must show, on both sides, the name and address of the firm and its septage removal permit number, in bold lettering at least 2 inches high on a contrasting background. Trucks also carry an identifying sticker issued by the state. If the truck has no permit number on it, ask why.

Can a homeowner do their own septic work?

Rule .19 doesn't apply to a property owner, or the owner's tenant, doing their own work on property where they live. That exemption doesn't remove the construction permit. You still need one before building or repairing a system. The permit guide covers that step.

What should you ask before you hire?

• What name is your permit under? Then look up that exact name.
• Which permit type do you hold? Installer, pumper, or both, and conventional or alternative.
• Who'll actually be on site? Ask whether it's the permitted business's own crew.
• Does this job need a state inspection before anything is buried, and who schedules it?

For background on the work itself, see our pages on septic installation, septic pump-outs and drain field repair vs replacement.

Who do you contact at TDEC?

For questions about licensed installers or pumpers, TDEC lists the Land-Based Systems unit at [email protected]. For local permits and records in Washington County, contact TDEC's Johnson City Environmental Field Office.