FacebookFacebookXXInstagramInstagramYouTubeYouTube

Home/Sewage/Septic Disposal Systems (ISDS)/Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

The Southern Nevada Health District is updating its Individual Sewage Disposal System (ISDS) regulations to protect drinking water, prevent pollution of the environment, and avoid costly cleanups in the future. Septic systems that are aging, located near the water table, or highly concentrated can cause contaminants such as nitrates to enter groundwater and potentially cause illness. Updating the rules helps ensure wells remain safe and property owners avoid health risks and expensive repairs to their septic systems down the road.

Following are Frequently Asked Questions received by the Health District. This list will be updated as needed

The Health District periodically updates its regulations to align with state requirements and current public health standards. The current regulations have not been comprehensively updated since 2009. Those proposed regulations are designed to protect public health and water quality; modernize the regulations; create a sustainable program; prevent costly system failures; and improve homeowner and homebuyer awareness.

The updated draft regulations propose a 5-year operating permit for new septic systems. Existing septic systems would not require new or renewed permits. The 5-year review on newly permitted systems will allow the Health District to review system performance periodically at renewal, address changes or degradation, and determine ongoing compliance. This review also helps alert homeowners to potential issues and associated costs.

The proposed regulations apply to newly installed septic systems. Current septic system owners may opt-in to the 5-year permitting cycle. Homeowners will receive early identification and risk mitigation (direct benefit), community health and property value protection (indirect benefit), and program sustainability (administrative benefit). The 5-year renewal cycle will help notify homeowners of potential issues that can compromise the system before it starts to fail. The program helps protect local water quality by ensuring septic systems are maintained, which is critical since many areas have shown elevated nitrate concentrations in private wells.

The Health District does not place liens on properties for non-payment of permit fees. If fees remain unpaid, the property would be considered out of compliance with Health District regulations. We work with property owners to resolve compliance issues and encourage them to contact us if they have concerns so we can discuss available options.

There will be no onsite inspection by a Health District inspector or by a 3rd party inspector. The 5-year permit renewal for new systems, or existing systems that opt-in, involves a “review of the permit,” which is intended to identify potential issues that can compromise systems before they start to fail. This review includes:

  • Documentation review to verify the completeness and accuracy of the Health District’s records
  • Compliance review and notification of compliance issues if necessary
  • Proactive maintenance.

The goal is to catch non-compliant or high-risk conditions via documentation before they escalate into an expensive failure that requires an emergency repair.

The proposed regulations apply to all septic systems in Clark County. Sections of the regulations, including the 5-year permit renewal, apply only to new construction, with an option to opt-in for existing systems.

If you do not have access to a community sewerage system (e.g., you live in Sandy Valley, Mount Charleston, or another area without sewer infrastructure), or rely on a domestic well, the provisions requiring connection to the sewer system would not apply to you.

No, the new lot size restrictions will not apply to any existing lots. This change will apply specifically to larger parcels that are subdivided into lots smaller than 0.5 acre. The purpose of increasing the minimum lot size is to reduce septic system density and ensure consistency with state ISDS regulations in NAC 444.790.

No, the Health District’s proposed regulations do not impact or revoke water rights. The regulations focus on managing wastewater to protect water quality for all of Clark County, not on controlling anyone’s legal right to use their water.

Assembly Bill 220 (2023) authorizes, but does not require, the Health District to create a financial assistance program for septic-to-sewer conversions. The Health District is open to creating such a program once a sustainable funding source is identified, but we do not yet have a tentative start date for this enrollment process.

The Health District has exclusive regulatory authority over septic systems in Clark County. The Health District and SNWA have complementary roles and collaborate as appropriate to ensure the protection of the community’s water resources and public health.

The Health District has jurisdictional authority to permit, inspect, and regulate septic systems in Clark County. An important distinction is when the Colorado River is the water supply source. Since June 6, 2023 (the effective date of AB220), Nevada state law has prohibited the installation of new septic systems on properties that receive water from the Colorado River. In those cases, a waiver must be granted by SNWA before the Health District can issue a permit for a new septic system.

Yes, your voice and opinion have a direct effect on the outcome. The public input process is a critical part of how the new regulations are finalized.

How Your Input Is Used: The Health District is actively collecting all public comments, feedback, and concerns gathered during workshops, outreach sessions, and public comment periods. The Environmental Health Engineering staff will consolidate and summarize this feedback before it is formally presented to the Southern Nevada District Board of Health. The Board is the governing body that is authorized to approve, adjust, or reject the proposed regulations. Your feedback informs the Board’s decisions and ensures that community perspectives are considered before the final regulations are adopted.

Comments can be submitted by email to septicregs@snhd.org, provided during the public comment period at workshops and other public meetings, or mailed to Southern Nevada Health District, P.O. Box 3902, Las Vegas, NV 89127. Public comments are compiled and considered regardless of how or where we receive them.

Stay Informed

To subscribe to this page and get notified when it is updated, enter your email address below.

 

Updated on: February 23, 2026

2026-02-23T16:22:22-08:00
Copyright © 2026, Southern Nevada Health District
Skip to content