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Gregg County's 2026 Septic Order, Explained

On 31 March 2026 the Gregg County Commissioners Court passed a new order for on-site sewage facilities. Most of it adopts the state's TCEQ rules, but a handful of local rules are stricter, and they are the ones a Longview-area owner is most likely to run into.

What the order does

The order adopts the TCEQ rules for on-site sewage facilities, 30 TAC Chapter 285, by reference, along with all future amendments. It repeals and replaces any earlier Gregg County septic order. It also lists the local rules that are stricter than the state's, and says those take precedence where they conflict.

The county's OSSF inspector has to be certified by TCEQ. Anyone unhappy with a decision can appeal to the Commissioners Court.

Where it applies, and where it may not

Section 6 applies the rules to all of Gregg County except areas regulated under an existing rule and areas inside incorporated cities. Cities and towns that have signed an intergovernmental contract with the county are covered as well.

If your property is inside Longview, Kilgore, White Oak or another city limit, the county order applies there only if that city has signed an intergovernmental contract with Gregg County. Ask the city which office permits septic work inside its limits, and confirm with the county health department at (903) 237-2628, before you hire anyone. State rules make TCEQ itself the permitting authority wherever no local OSSF order, ordinance or resolution has been approved (30 TAC §285.3). Our service areas page notes that Gladewater and Kilgore also straddle county lines.

A permit for repairs, whatever the acreage

State rules exempt some large tracts. Under 30 TAC §285.3(f)(2), a single-family home on ten acres or more can skip planning materials, a permit and inspections if the system meets the design standards, causes no nuisance, keeps every part 100 ft from the property line, and the home is the only dwelling.

Gregg County does not allow that. Section 10(A) requires an application, permit and inspection for the construction, alteration, extension or repair of any residential or commercial system, regardless of the size of the tract.

Emergencies are still handled under the state rule, §285.35. Work that stops an immediate, serious health hazard without changing the system's design, like replacing a tank lid, an inlet or outlet device, a disinfection device or a solid line, can start at once. The person doing it must notify the permitting authority in writing within 72 hours with a description of the methods and materials. Our repair page covers the warning signs that lead there.

Who may maintain an aerobic system

Section 10(B) requires all maintenance to be done by a TCEQ-registered maintenance company, unless the owner:

• is a TCEQ-registered maintenance provider for their own aerobic unit, or
• was trained by an installer or manufacturer under HB 2510 before HB 2482 was adopted, or
• holds a valid Class D or higher wastewater treatment license and is certified by the manufacturer for their brand.

TCEQ says homeowners may maintain some systems themselves two years after installation, and also that some permitting authorities have stricter rules. Gregg County is one. The contract side is covered on our maintenance contract page.

Inspections every three months, with more in the report

TCEQ's baseline is a report to the permitting authority and the owner at least once every four months, or every six months where the system has an electronic monitor. Section 10(C) of the Gregg County order sets inspections at no less than once every three months, and requires them to meet the manufacturer's inspection requirements for the brand too.

Each required testing report must also record the sludge level in the pump tank and the condition of the spray area. If you own an aerobic system, those two lines are worth reading on every report. A rising sludge level is an early warning that the tank needs pumping, which our pumping page covers.

If you are putting in a new aerobic system

The order sits on top of the county health department's existing policy for surface application systems. Before review, that policy asks for a plan sealed and signed by a Registered Sanitarian or Professional Engineer, with details of the aerobic unit, filters, alarms, chlorinator, pump and piping, and calculations for emergency storage, pump sizing and head loss. It also asks for a notarized Affidavit to the Public filed with the County Clerk and a copy of a two-year maintenance contract with a valid maintenance company. The three-month inspection rule above applies to the system under that contract and every one after it.

Fees under the order

Section 12 raises the permit fee from $210 to $350, with commercial permits at $450, and adds a $100 re-inspection fee if a system has to be inspected again. Fees are payable to Gregg County. The steps for a new system are on our Gregg County permit page.

The county's septic web page lists the program's phone as (903) 237-2628. The health department's permit documents give its address as 405 East Marshall Avenue, Longview.

Questions people ask

I have 12 acres. Do I need a permit to repair my septic system in Gregg County?

Yes. The state exemption for tracts of ten acres or more does not apply here, because the Gregg County order requires a permit and inspection for any repair regardless of tract size.

How often must my aerobic system be inspected in Gregg County?

No less than once every three months under the 2026 order, where the county order applies, and each report must note the pump tank sludge level and the spray area's condition.

Can I maintain my own aerobic system?

Only if you are a TCEQ-registered maintenance provider for your unit, were trained under HB 2510 before HB 2482, or hold a Class D or higher wastewater license and manufacturer certification for your brand.

Does the county order apply inside the City of Longview?

Not automatically. Section 6 covers Gregg County outside incorporated cities, plus any city that has an intergovernmental contract with the county. If you are inside Longview's city limits, or any other city's, ask the city which authority permits septic work there.