Clallam County, Washington: septic system inspection at sale
Checked on November 9, 2026 against the official rule. Rule set by Clallam County Environmental 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 | Professional inspection when an inspection is needed for a real estate transaction; DIY not allowed for sales; report filed with county within 30 days of inspection Source: clallamcountywa.gov |
| Triggered by | Every property transfer: the owner gives the buyer a current system status report, done within the previous 12 months Source: clallamcountywa.gov |
| Who may inspect | county on-site professionals. official page (clallamcountywa.gov) Source: clallamcountywa.gov |
| Official forms | clallamcountywa.gov Source: clallamcountywa.gov |
| In force since | June 1, 2010 Source: clallamcountywa.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: Clallam County Environmental Health.
In force since June 1, 2010 (as the official text states).
Checked on November 9, 2026: read on the official site.
Compared with other Washington rules
- In force since 2010: the 3rd oldest of the 4 Washington local rules whose start year we could read (tied with 1 other from the same year). 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 Clallam County
In 2015 about 17,859 of Clallam County’s 73,486 residents (24%) got their drinking water from a private well, by the USGS estimate. That is the 17th highest share of the 39 Washington counties in the USGS table, and the 18th 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 Clallam 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 Clallam County.
| Lab | Town | Distance | Certified on the list for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clallam County Environmental Laboratory | Port Angeles, WA · in this county | 30 miles | coliform bacteria, nitrate |
| Spectra Laboratories - Kitsap, LLC | Poulsbo, WA | 69 miles | coliform bacteria, nitrate |
| Grays Harbor County Water Testing Lab | Montesano, WA | 80 miles | coliform bacteria, nitrate |
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 Clallam 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 Clallam County.
| Rule | State | Distance | Covers | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Island County | Washington | about 71 miles | Septic system | November 9, 2026 |
| Skagit County | Washington | about 92 miles | Septic system | November 9, 2026 |
| King County | Washington | about 96 miles | Septic system | November 9, 2026 |
| Thurston County | Washington | about 97 miles | Septic system | November 9, 2026 |
| Pierce County | Washington | about 101 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.