New Septic Installation in Polk County, Texas
Licensed, bonded septic system installation for Polk County — Livingston, Onalaska, Corrigan, Goodrich, Indian Springs, Cedar Point and the surrounding rural communities.
Licensed & Bonded
Texas OSF installer
Permitted & Inspected
County health-dept approved
New Installs Only
Built right the first time
Free Estimates
No-obligation, on-site
Updated October 20, 2026
Your Polk County septic installer
Across Polk County's rural land, most homes run on their own on-site septic system instead of city sewer. We design, permit, and install new septic systems for new construction, manufactured, and mobile homes throughout the county — including Livingston, Onalaska, Corrigan, Goodrich, Indian Springs, Cedar Point — handling the soil and percolation testing and the county OSSF permitting from start to finish.
We install new septic systems across Polk County — Livingston and Onalaska, Corrigan and Goodrich, Indian Springs and Cedar Point, and the lake subdivisions along Lake Livingston. Between the timberland, the acreage off US 59 and US 190, and the lake lots, most homes out here run on their own on-site systems. Whether it's a new build, a lake house, or a manufactured home on family land, we size the system, pull the right permit, and install it to pass.
What we install in Polk County
Site Evaluation & Perc Testing
We evaluate your soil and run the percolation test that determines how well your ground absorbs water — the foundation of a system that works.
System Design & Sizing
We size the tank and drainfield to your home's bedroom count and your soil's absorption rate, then engineer a layout that fits your lot.
Permitting & County Approval
We prepare and submit your on-site sewage facility (OSF) permit application and coordinate approvals with your county health department.
Excavation & Site Prep
We prepare the site and excavate for the tank and drainfield with the right grade and setbacks — protecting your wells, structures, and property lines.
Tank Installation
We set the septic tank, connect the inlet and outlet plumbing at the correct grade, and install the effluent filter and risers for easy future access.
Drainfield Installation
We install the drainfield (leach field) that disperses treated effluent safely into the soil, sized to your percolation results and available area.
We handle Polk County permitting
On-site sewage facilities (OSSF) are permitted at the county level. We prepare the application, submit the soil and design documentation, and see it through approval and final inspection — so your Polk County system is fully permitted and passes the county inspection.
Polk County has two septic offices. In unincorporated Polk County, permits run through the Polk County Permit Department at 602 E. Church Street in Livingston; on Lake Livingston, its islands, and land within 2,000 feet of the lake's 131-foot shoreline contour, the Trinity River Authority issues the Letter of Authorization to build a system and the license to run it. Inside the cities of Livingston, Corrigan, Onalaska, and Goodrich the county program doesn't apply unless the city contracts with the county, so we check with the city first. The county's packet is the application, a site evaluation with soil analysis, a design (by a professional engineer or registered sanitarian for an aerobic system), a landscape plan, and for an aerobic unit a maintenance contract and an affidavit the county approves before it's recorded. Since October 2024 the septic and development permits are filed together, and electric service isn't released until the Authorization to Construct is issued. Plan review takes about 7–10 days, the system is inspected before it's covered, and then the county issues its notice of approval. We prepare the packet, file it with the right office, and schedule the inspections.
Local OSSF permitting authority: Polk County Permit Department
Typical county permit fee: About $300 (county fees change — we confirm the current amount during permitting)
New to septic? Our guides cover the basics: How Much Does It Cost to Install a Septic System in Texas? (2026) · What Size Septic Tank Do I Need? · What Is a Perc Test (and Why Does It Matter)?
Soil & site conditions in Polk County
Polk County is pineywoods, and the joint Polk–San Jacinto soil survey shows why so few lots take a plain drainfield. The upland series — Pinetucky, Woodville, and Wiergate — are loamy soils over slow, clayey subsoil (Wiergate shrinks and swells hard); Colita and Laska stay wet near the surface for part of the year; and Pluck, Hatliff, and Kian on the Trinity River bottoms flood. USDA rates most of them "very limited" for a conventional septic drainfield. Aerobic units with spray or drip dispersal are the usual answer, and your on-site soil evaluation confirms the design.
What a new septic system costs in Polk County
Our installed prices are flat by system type and cover the system and its installation. The soil evaluation (perc test), the engineered design, and the county permit are not included — we can handle them for you and quote them separately. The soil evaluation also decides which of the three systems your lot needs.
| System type | Installed price |
|---|---|
| Conventional gravity | $8,000 |
| Aerobic (ATU) + spray | $11,950 |
| Aerobic (ATU) + drip | $13,950 |
Polk County's published single-family OSSF permit fee is $300, and it isn't included in the prices above. County fees change, so the current amount is confirmed when the permit is filed.
Cities & towns we serve in Polk County
We checked each community the same way as our town pages: spots within 3 miles of the town center, run through the USDA soil survey and FEMA's flood maps. A map sample isn't your lot; the soil borings on your property decide the system.
| Community | Most common soils | Rated "very limited" for a drainfield | In a FEMA high-risk flood zone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corrigan | Colita, Boykin | 19 of 22 spots | 1 of 22 spots |
| Goodrich | Woodville, Hatliff | 22 of 22 spots | 6 of 22 spots |
| Indian Springs | Pinetucky, Belrose | 19 of 22 spots | 2 of 22 spots |
| Livingston | Woodville, Hatliff | 18 of 22 spots | 4 of 22 spots |
| Onalaska | Pinetucky, Choates | 6 of 6 spots | 0 of 6 spots on land |
Sources: USDA NRCS Soil Survey (SSURGO) and FEMA National Flood Hazard Layer, checked October 20, 2026. Spots on open water (lakes, rivers, bays) are left out of the flood column, which covers land only. Check your own lot with the free land check.
We also install new septic systems across the rest of our service area: Harris County · Montgomery County · Fort Bend County · Waller County · Liberty County · Washington County · Grimes County · San Jacinto County · Walker County · Colorado County · Austin County · Wharton County · Brazoria County · Chambers County.
Polk County septic questions
Do I need a permit for a septic system in Polk County?
Yes. A new on-site sewage facility (OSSF) requires a county permit plus a soil/site evaluation before installation. We handle the full permitting process for you, start to finish.
How much does a septic system cost in Polk County?
It depends on your soil type, system type, and drainfield size. Use our instant estimator for a ballpark, then we confirm the exact price after a free on-site evaluation.
Do you install septic systems for manufactured and mobile homes?
Yes — manufactured and mobile homes on rural Polk County land are what we install most. We size and permit the right system for your home and lot.
Who issues septic permits in Polk County, and what does the permit cost?
In unincorporated Polk County, the Polk County Permit Department in Livingston, (936) 327-6820. Its fee schedule (effective October 1, 2026) lists a residential septic permit at $300, a residential repair at $150, and a $15-a-year processing fee for maintenance contracts; the fee is waived for the first home on a tract of 10 acres or more, which still files a 10-acre exemption form. Within 2,000 feet of Lake Livingston, the Trinity River Authority permits instead ($200 for a new system on its application). Permit fees are paid to the permitting office and quoted separately from our installed price.
Does living near Lake Livingston change my septic project?
Yes. On the lake, its islands, and land within 2,000 feet of the 131-foot shoreline contour, the Trinity River Authority — not the county — issues the Letter of Authorization to build and the license to operate. No effluent may be discharged within 75 feet of that contour, and an aerobic system needs a two-year maintenance contract to be licensed, then a one-year contract for each annual renewal unless the owner qualifies to maintain it. We check which office your lot falls under first.
How big does my lot need to be in Polk County?
The county's septic order sets a minimum lot size of 1 acre for a home on public water with a septic system, and 2 acres where the lot has both a private well and a septic system. (An older county FAQ still lists smaller figures; the order is the rule.) We check your lot against it before anything is designed.
Do I have to keep a maintenance contract on an aerobic system in Polk County?
Yes — Polk County is stricter than the state here. Its order requires a continuous maintenance contract after the initial two-year contract, unless the homeowner, at their primary single-family residence, is a registered maintenance provider or has been trained and certified (by an Installer II, the manufacturer, or the county's designated representative) or trained by a registered maintenance provider. Inspection reports go to the county every four months, and missing eight consecutive months of reports ends homeowner maintenance.
Why do most Polk County homes need an aerobic system?
Polk's pineywoods soils — Pinetucky, Woodville, and Wiergate uplands over slow clay, wet Colita and Laska flats, and flood-prone Trinity bottomland — fail the TCEQ criteria for a conventional gravity drainfield on many sites, and USDA rates most of them very limited for one. An aerobic unit with spray or drip dispersal is the design that passes. Your soil evaluation confirms it for your lot.
Can you install a septic system for a manufactured or mobile home in Polk County?
Yes. A manufactured home on acreage around Onalaska, Corrigan, or Goodrich needs its own permitted on-site system, and each additional home on the same tract needs its own permit. The county files the septic and development permits together, and won't release electric service until the Authorization to Construct is issued — so we get the permit moving before the home is set.
Get your free Polk County estimate
Tell us about your property and we'll size your system and schedule a free, no-obligation on-site evaluation.
Buying land in Polk County? Check the soil before you close
Enter any address and get the USDA soil rating, FEMA flood zone, mapped wetlands, and the septic system type you're likely looking at — free, in about ten seconds.
Serving property owners across the region
Counties We Serve
- Harris County
- Montgomery County
- Fort Bend County
- Waller County
- Liberty County
- Washington County
- Grimes County
- San Jacinto County
- Walker County
- Colorado County
- Austin County
- Wharton County
- Brazoria County
- Chambers County
- Polk County
Don't see your county?
We're often able to serve nearby areas too. Reach out with your property's location and we'll let you know if we can help.
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