SB277 Alabama 2021 Session

Updated Feb 26, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Tom Whatley
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2021
Title: Onsite Wastewater Board, privately owned wastewater systems exempt from regulation by the board, Sec. 34-21A-10 am'd.
Summary: SB277 would exempt certain privately owned onsite wastewater systems and related groups from regulation or licensure by the Alabama Onsite Wastewater Board.
What This Bill Does
If enacted, homeowners on one- or two-family primary residences could install, clean, service, or maintain their own onsite systems without board licensure. The Onsite Wastewater Board would not license or regulate distributors of septic tanks or onsite wastewater systems. It would also not license or regulate owners of multiple wastewater systems (or groups under common ownership) where at least one system has a design flow of 15,000 gallons per day or greater, or general contractors with the appropriate municipal/utility endorsements when working on those systems.

Who It Affects
Homeowners with a single- or two-family primary residence who perform installation/maintenance themselves (no board licensure required).
Distributors of septic tanks or conventional/engineered onsite wastewater systems (exempt from licensing/regulation).
Owners of multiple wastewater systems or groups under common ownership where any system design flow is 15,000 GPD or greater (exempt from licensing/regulation).
General contractors licensed with municipal/utility endorsements when installing or maintaining those large systems (exempt from licensing/regulation).

Key Provisions
Section 34-21A-10(a): Homeowners on their own primary residence may install, clean, service, or maintain an onsite system without licensure, if they do the work themselves.
Section 34-21A-10(b)(1): The board shall not license or regulate distributors of septic tanks or onsite wastewater systems.
Section 34-21A-10(b)(2): The board shall not license or regulate owners of multiple wastewater systems or systems in a group with one or more having design flow of 15,000 GPD or greater.
Section 34-21A-10(b)(3): The board shall not license or regulate general contractors with municipal/utility endorsements when installing/maintaining those systems as described in (2).
Section 2: The act becomes effective on the first day of the third month following its passage and governor's approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 23, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.
Subjects: Onsite Wastewater Board