Skagit County, Washington: septic system inspection at sale
Checked on November 9, 2026 against the official rule. Rule set by Skagit County Public Health.
General information, not legal advice. This is our summary of the official rule as we read it. The ordinance or code and the health department decide: confirm with them before you list, sign or close.
The rule
Washington also has a statewide rule: see the Washington page. Where both apply, follow both.
| Question | What the official text says |
|---|---|
| What is required | O/M inspection by certified O/M Specialist before any property transfer, unless done within six months before Source: skagitcountywa.gov |
| Triggered by | transfer of property with OSS Source: skagitcountywa.gov |
| Deadline | inspection dated within 6 months of closing Source: skagitcountywa.gov |
| Who arranges it | seller Source: skagitcountywa.gov |
| How long a report is valid | 6 months before transfer Source: skagitcountywa.gov |
| Exemptions |
Source: skagitcountywa.gov |
| Fee | no transfer-inspection fee listed; county rebate up to $100 per household for inspections (2026 fee schedule) Source: skagitcountywa.gov |
| If the system fails | Owner repairs/replaces with permit; Craft3 loan possible Source: skagitcountywa.gov |
| Who may inspect | Skagit County O&M certification. official list (media-002-us.cdn.govstack.com) Source: skagitcountywa.gov |
| Official forms | skagitcountywa.gov Source: skagitcountywa.gov |
| In force since | April 3, 2006 Source: skagitcountywa.gov |
This is our summary of the official rule as we read it. The ordinance or code and the health department decide: confirm with them before you list, sign or close. Rule set by: Skagit County Public Health.
In force since April 3, 2006 (as the official text states).
Checked on November 9, 2026: read on the official site.
Published costs
What the official fee schedule or guide for Skagit County says, with the year it applies to. The other 1 item published in Washington are listed for comparison; they are different items, so we do not average them.
| Jurisdiction | Item | Amount | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skagit County (this rule) | inspection rebate for qualifying residents | up to $100 | 2026 | skagitcountywa.gov |
| Island County | septic inspection at sale (provider charges) | $100 to $500 | 2026 | islandcountywa.gov |
Inspectors, pumpers and labs set their own prices on top of these; the official source is the one that counts.
Compared with other Washington rules
- In force since 2006: the oldest of the 4 Washington local rules whose start year we could read. Oldest: Skagit County (2006), Island County (2008), Clallam County (2010).
Our census of official rules, checked November 9, 2026; start dates as the official text states them.
Private wells in Skagit County
In 2015 about 28,917 of Skagit County’s 121,846 residents (24%) got their drinking water from a private well, by the USGS estimate. That is the 18th highest share of the 39 Washington counties in the USGS table, and the 12th highest number of private-well users.
As we read it, this rule covers the septic system, not the well.
Source: USGS county water use 2015 (Dieter et al., 2018). Ranks count the Washington counties in the USGS table (1 = highest).
Certified labs nearest to Skagit County for a well water test
Labs on the Washington certified drinking-water list that the list marks as taking samples from homeowners or outside clients, certified for coliform bacteria, nearest first. 1 of them is in Skagit County.
| Lab | Town | Distance | Certified on the list for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eurofins DW and WW West, Washington Laboratory | Burlington, WA · in this county | 8 miles | coliform bacteria, nitrate |
| Freshwater Analytical Labs, LLC | Arlington, WA | 20 miles (approx.) | coliform bacteria |
| Lynden Water Treatment Plant Laboratory | Lynden, WA | 20 miles (approx.) | coliform bacteria |
Source: WA Ecology - Environmental Laboratories Accredited for Drinking Water Analyses (with scopes) (Information current as of 11/13/2026; read November 15, 2026). Straight-line distance from the centre of Skagit County (the average of its Census ZIP-area points); “approx.” = lab placed at its ZIP centre. Call the lab first: lists do not say which household tests each lab takes or what it charges.
Nearest other sale-time rules
Buying or selling near a county line? These are the closest other local rules in our census to Skagit County.
| Rule | State | Distance | Covers | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Island County | Washington | about 28 miles | Septic system | November 9, 2026 |
| King County | Washington | about 63 miles | Septic system | November 9, 2026 |
| Pierce County | Washington | about 90 miles | Septic system | November 9, 2026 |
| Clallam County | Washington | about 92 miles | Septic system | November 9, 2026 |
| Thurston County | Washington | about 109 miles | Septic system | November 9, 2026 |
Straight-line distance between county centres (the average of each county’s Census ZIP-area points). Townships, villages and health districts are placed at the centre of their county.
All rules: by state · Washington.