PORT ANGELES – Effective immediately, Clallam County properties with an onsite septic system will be assessed a $13 per septic system fee on their tax statement. The fee is assessed on an annual basis and is only on properties with onsite septic systems. These are generally properties in the County and not within city limits. It is not assessed on properties served by a municipal sewer.
The new fee is a result of state regulations which require homeowners to routinely inspect their onsite septic systems and for local health jurisdictions to inventory all systems within the County. The fee was adopted by the Clallam County Board of Health in August 2021. The ordinance and fee schedule went through public process including public hearings and taking comments from the public.
County Health officials said on Thursday the $13 fee is to cover costs of the County maintaining records and providing education to Clallam residents to prevent costly failures of septic systems.
To learn more about the history of this change, go to the Clallam Health and Human Services website.