Public Record Request

The Environmental Services Department of Maricopa County maintains all records of its existing permitted septic systems in a database for posterity. Please note: Property owners are responsible for keeping accurate records of the septic system location and maintenance for the life of the septic system.

Onsite systems with a failing tank or disposal field will require an Alteration Permit.

Onsite systems that are to be abandoned for a connection to city sewer or for replacement of one or more parts of the system (tank or disposal field no longer in use) will require an Abandonment Permit.

As of November 1, 2009, the Onsite Wastewater Program has implemented fees that are authorized by the Maricopa County Environmental Health Code for public record requests for septic records. The Department requires the existing septic permit information for the following submittals: Alteration permit, Abandonment permit, and Minor Plan Review. If the existing septic permit information is unknown or unavailable, a public record request must be completed prior to submitting these permit applications or forms.

Definitions:

Non-Commercial Purpose: Noncommercial requests are those submitted directly by the owner of the property/parcel referenced in the request for purposes of maintenance, planning and repair; all other requests shall be considered commercial. The Department considers records requests for the purpose of the sale (Transfer) of a property to be a Commercial Purpose.
Commercial Purpose: All requests that do not fit the definition of a Non-Commercial Purpose are considered a Commercial Purpose. From the Arizona Public Records Act, ARS 39-121.03(D),
“…for any purpose in which the purchaser can reasonably anticipate the receipt of monetary gain from the direct or indirect use of the public record.”

Procedures:

To request a Public Record Request for septic records, use either the Non-Commercial or Commercial Purpose request form according to the purpose for the request as defined above or use the Online Public Record Request Form

• Non-commercial Purpose -  
• Commercial Purpose -  

Non-Commercial Purpose: Fax or mail requests to us. For faxed requests, a "Fax Verification" sheet will be returned to you. For mailed requests, a phone call or email will verify that we received the request. The request will be put into the queue immediately. When completed, you will be notified by email or phone and the record will be faxed or mailed.

Commercial Purpose: Fax or mail requests to us. For faxed requests, a "Fax Verification" sheet will be returned to you with a Billing Code number. Follow payment instructions on the "Fax Verification" sheet. For mailed requests, you will be contacted by phone or email with the Billing Code and payment instructions. Once payment has been received, the request will be put into the queue. When completed, you will be notified by email or phone and the record will be faxed or mailed. Requests will be reviewed until payment is received: Requests are done in "Paid Date Order". When completed, the record will be released according to the instructions given on the request.

Fees are as follows:

• Regular Commercial Purpose requests - $30
• Expedited Commercial Purpose request - $60, fee assessed if requestor requires record within three business days.
• Regular Non-Commercial Purpose request – No fee
• Expedited Non-Commercial Purpose request - $30, fee assessed if homeowner requires record within three business days.

All Commercial Purpose requests are subject to a flat fee per address/parcel number which is based on the average time required to retrieve records and the Division’s hourly fee as listed in the most current Maricopa County Environmental Health Code fee table.

All Non-Commercial request may be assessed a fee for reproduction costs as listed in the most current Maricopa County Environmental Health Code fee table.