What Realtors and Homebuyers MUST Know About NC House Bill 688
North Carolina House Bill 688 is new legislation that was effective January 1, 2008. This legislation targets septic system inspectors and septic system installers. Septic system installers and inspectors MUST now be certified by the North Carolina On-site Wastewater Contractors and Inspectors Certification Board (NCOWCICB) in order to install or inspect septic systems in NC.
Any septic system inspections done in NC as part of a real estate transaction must now be done by a NCOWCICB certified inspector. The legislation does NOT require a septic system inspection as part of a real estate transaction. However, it does require that a NCOWCICB certified inspector conduct the septic system inspection when one is done as part of a real estate transaction. Therefore, if you have a septic system inspection conducted as part of a real estate transaction in NC, please make certain that your inspector is NCOWCICB certified. Certified inspectors should carry a wallet card and are listed on the following website: www.ncowcicb.info.
Jeff Vaughan, NCOWCICB Certified Inspector and NC L.S.S.
Senior Soil Scientist
