Sourced from HB 2671 bill text (2025 Acts of Assembly, Chapter 103), §§ 59.1-310.7 and 59.1-310.9 of the Code of Virginia, and Virginia onsite wastewater industry guidance — last checked August 2026.
Virginia Septic Guide — Free Tool
Do You Actually Need a Septic Inspection to Sell?
Which doesn’t mean you won’t need one. Here’s what actually determines it.
Directional guidance only, based on HB 2671 (2025 Acts of Assembly, Chapter 103; signed March 20, 2025; effective July 1, 2025), which amended §§ 59.1-310.7 and 59.1-310.9 of the Code of Virginia. Not legal advice — your closing attorney or agent is the authority on your specific transaction.
What the Law Actually Says
Start with the bill’s own title: “Authorized septic system inspectors; definitions, minimum requirements, penalty.” It amends §§ 59.1-310.7 and 59.1-310.9 of the Code of Virginia “relating to septic system inspectors; minimum requirements.”
Not to requiring inspections. To regulating inspectors.
The operative definition in the bill text settles it:
The law defines what an inspection is when someone asks for one. It creates no obligation on anyone to ask.
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Independent Confirmation
This isn’t our reading alone. A Virginia septic contractor writing about the new law answers the question directly: “No, but if an inspection is requested by a buyer, seller, lender, or agent, it must meet specific requirements outlined in the law.”
The Onsite Wastewater Professionals association describes the bill’s purpose as standardizing inspections — establishing minimum requirements for thorough and uniform evaluations. Their framing of the problem it solved: for years, point-of-sale inspections varied widely, leading to inconsistent evaluations and confusion for homebuyers.
The bill fixed the inspection. It did not create a mandate.
Why This Matters
If you believed the inspection was legally required, you might spend money you do not need to spend — or worse, believe a transaction cannot legally close without one.
The practical reality is more nuanced and more useful: you will probably end up getting an inspection anyway, but for reasons that are negotiable rather than statutory.
| Situation | Is an inspection needed? |
|---|---|
| Virginia state law | No requirement |
| FHA or VA loan | Lender typically requires evidence of a functioning system |
| Conventional mortgage | Often requested; escalates if a home inspection flags concerns |
| Cash purchase | Nothing requires one — genuinely optional |
What HB 2671 Did Establish
The standards are real and worth understanding, because they apply to any inspection you do get.
Licensing. Inspections must be performed by professionals licensed through DPOR — the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation — as onsite sewage system operators or onsite soil evaluators.
Accreditation for the title. To use the title “accredited septic system inspector” in connection with any real estate transaction, including a refinancing, a person must be accredited by the National Sanitation Foundation or an equivalent body.
Minimum scope. Under § 59.1-310.9(C), the inspector must obtain, evaluate, describe or determine the advertised number of bedrooms and the designed system size, drawn from available local health department records such as the current operation permit or repair permit.
That last requirement deserves attention. If a home is being marketed with more bedrooms than the system was designed to handle, the inspection is structured to surface it. That’s a genuine protection for buyers and a genuine risk for sellers who finished a basement without checking the permit.
The Timeline
HB 2671 was introduced by Delegate Eric Phillips, passed both chambers, was signed by Governor Youngkin on March 20, 2025, and took effect July 1, 2025. It is Chapter 103 of the 2025 Acts of Assembly.
What You Should Actually Do
If you’re selling: a pre-listing inspection is a modest, predictable cost and puts you in control of the timing. Finding a problem on your own schedule is meaningfully better than finding it during the buyer’s due diligence period.
If you’re buying: request one. Nothing obliges the seller to have done it, and replacement is a major expense: the EPA puts a conventional system at $5,000 to $15,000 nationally and says alternative systems cost more.
Either way: confirm the bedroom count matches the permit before it becomes someone else’s discovery.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does Virginia require a septic inspection to sell a home?
No. HB 2671 sets minimum standards for what an inspection must contain when one is requested. It does not require anyone to request one. Several widely-read sites state otherwise, and they are wrong.
What did HB 2671 actually do?
It established accreditation and licensing requirements for septic inspectors and set minimum standards for inspection scope. Its own title is Authorized septic system inspectors; definitions, minimum requirements, penalty.
When did HB 2671 take effect?
It was signed by Governor Youngkin on March 20, 2025 and took effect July 1, 2025. It is Chapter 103 of the 2025 Acts of Assembly, introduced by Delegate Eric Phillips.
Who can perform a septic inspection in Virginia?
A professional licensed through DPOR as an onsite sewage system operator or onsite soil evaluator. To use the title accredited septic system inspector, the person must be accredited by the National Sanitation Foundation or an equivalent body.
Will I still need an inspection in practice?
Probably. FHA and VA lenders typically require evidence of a functioning system, and conventional lenders often escalate to one if a home inspection raises concerns. Cash purchases carry no requirement.