April 05, 2026
Local NewsState & NationalPublic Notices

Time of transfer inspection law takes effect

By VALARIE ALLEN

Out of the past: This old outhouse on the Tony and Vicki Allen farm may be a thing of the past, but new laws requiring inspections and pumping for sanitary sewer systems goes into effect July 1 when documentation will be required when recording a property title transfer.

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Iowa’s time of transfer inspection law passed the Iowa Legislature in April 2008. The new law requires every home or building served by a septic system to have that septic system inspected prior to the sale or deed transfer for the property starting July 1.

The initial starting date was 2010, said Union County Environmental Health Specialist Louis Boeckman, but during the budget approval process, the date was moved to this year.

Inspections must be conducted by a state certified inspector and are valid for two years.

“There has always been a groundwater protection act,” said Union County Recorder Paula White. “This new legislation just expands on that. Now, when transferring a property deed, the inspection paperwork must be provided.”

White said there is also a form to file if there are extenuating circumstances that would prevent an inspection being done prior to the time of transfer.

That documentation is available from Union County Environmental Health.

Purpose

The primary purpose of the law is to eliminate sewage discharge to ditches, abandoned wells or tile lines without a secondary treatment system.

If an existing system is undersized by current code, but properly treating wastewater and not creating unsanitary conditions, no upgrade will be required to the existing system.

Septic tanks will be required to be opened and contents pumped out at the time of inspection or inspected and pumped by licensed septic tank cleaner/pumpers within the prior three-year period.

Exemptions

Exemptions exist for court-ordered transactions such as foreclosure, bankruptcy, or eminent domain; fiduciary in the execution of a trust, estate, or guardianship; and transfer between joint tenants.

All documentation must show records of all components of the existing private sewage-disposal system. Copies of inspection documents must be submitted to Iowa Department of Natural Resources, county environmental health departments and county recorder.

For further information in Union County contact Union County Environmental Health at 641-782-7803, Union County recorder’s office at 641-782-1725, Iowa Department of Natural Resources at 515-281-8263, Union County Web site at www.unioncountyiowa.org or Iowa DNR Web site at www.iowadnr.gov.