Iowa's Time of Transfer Inspection Program

Iowa's time of transfer septic system inspection law (SF261) was passed by the Iowa legislature in April of 2008 and took effect July 1, 2009. The new law requires that every home/building served by a septic system have that septic system inspected prior to the sale or deed transfer for the home/building. The purpose of the law is to eliminate sub-standard or polluting septic systems. A sub-standard septic system is one that has no treatment (secondary treatment) following the septic tank or has a secondary treatment system that has failed. These sub-standard septic systems pose an environmental and public health hazard and require repair. If you have a septic system with a septic tank AND a secondary treatment system such as a seepage (leach) field, sand filter or other approved device, and it is not creating a public health or environmental hazard, it does not have to meet current code. All inspections must be conducted by an inspector that has been certified by the department.

• List of Certified Time of Transfer Inspectors,*pdf

Certified Time of Transfer Inspectors
To become a certified time of transfer inspector you must fill out the Certified Time of Transfer Inspector Application (see below), Form 542-0192, and submit it to the DNR. To qualify for the time of transfer inspector training you must have one of the following:

1. Two (2) years of experience in the operation, installation, inspection, design or maintenance of private sewage disposal systems (onsite wastewater treatment or septic systems).
   
   
2. Completed the "Basics of Onsite 101" class offered by the Onsite Wastewater Training Center of Iowa or an equivalent class approved by the department.

Once your application is approved, you must sign up for and complete the time of transfer inspector training offered by Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC)/Onsite Wastewater Training Center of Iowa and pass the test given at the end of the training. The cost for the Time of Transfer Inspector class is $300 payable to DMACC. Sign up for the Inspector Training class at the Onsite Wastewater Training Center of Iowa website or by calling DMACC at 515-964-6464 Once you have complete the training and the test, you will be notified of the test results and billed for the test fee ($50) and the certification fee ($300), payable to IDNR, if you pass. Pay the invoice and you will receive your certification. An outline of the certification process is available in the following flowchart(PDF).

If you have questions about time of transfer inspections or the requirements to become certified please call Daniel Olson, IDNR, at 515-281-8263 or e-mail at Daniel.olson@dnr.iowa.gov.

Links:

• Frequently Asked Questions about Septic System Inspections (*pdf)
• Frequently Asked Questions about the Groundwater Hazard Statement (*pdf)
• Information for Realtors(*pdf) on the Time of Transfer Inspection Program
• Certified Time of Transfer Inspector Application (*pdf, Form 542-0192)
• Time of Transfer Inspection Complaint form (*pdf)
• Time of Transfer Inspection Exemptions (*pdf)
• Chapter 69 of the Iowa Administrative Code(*pdf), effective March 18, 2009 (contains time of transfer rules)
• Onsite Wastewater Training Center of Iowa
• DNR Operator Certification Database