Sanitary Code Article XI – Septic Installer Licensing

About the Program

Category: County Administration and Management (Best in Category)

Year: 2013

Oakland County Health Division Environmental Health Services (EHS) is in the unique position of having an industry ask to be regulated through an addition to the Oakland County Sanitary Code. Due to competitive forces, local onsite sewage system contractors formed the Oakland County Septic Installers Association and began a grass-roots effort to prompt new regulation and support its passage through every phase of the Oakland County Board of Commissioners approval process. The result is Article XI which is focused on education, mandatory local licensure, promotion of professionalism as well as County oversight and administration. The local onsite industry benefits from protections that assure less knowledgeable, less skilled contractors are prevented from degrading knowledge, reputation and quality of the industry as a whole. EHS benefits from higher regulatory standards to enhance professionalism and quality, by providing better resources and confidence to clients, and by exceeding Minimum Program Requirements (MPR) administered by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ). Through Article XI, 141 classroom attendees became licensed Sewage Disposal System Installers in the first licensing year representing 113 businesses. EHS and the new industry association share communication and collaboration that demonstrates a non-adversarial relationship toward a goal of protecting the public health.