Environmental Health


The Comal County Environmental Health Department reviews all designs by Registered Sanitarians and Professional Engineers for on-site sewage facility (OSSF) construction. The department is charged with the issuing of OSSF permits, as well as the enforcement of county and state laws and regulations relating to Environmental Health. The department also responds to complaints concerning health violations in illegal waste water discharge and other nuisances.

Before building, altering, extending or operating an OSSF, a person must have a permit and approved plans from the TCEQ or its authorized agent (Comal County). A qualified site evaluator must conduct a site and soil evaluation. The system must be planned by a person authorized by the permitting authority under current regulation.

Notice: TCEQ Seeks Stakeholder Input on Upcoming Rulemaking Related to OSSFs

TCEQ is holding seven stakeholder meetings from December 2023 to March 2024 to present and take comments on rulemaking for OSSFs.

You can read the proposed changes and tentative timeline here: TCEQ Upcoming Rulemaking for On-Site Sewage Facilities

Rules and Regulations

The Texas legislature passed a law, HB 1875, in 1987 to regulate on-site sewage facility (OSSF) systems statewide. The law allowed regional and local governments – such as counties, cities, river authorities and special districts – to implement and enforce on-site sewage regulations with approval and oversight by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).

Although the state law has since been modified and expanded, its basic intent remains. The state sets minimum standards, and local authorities can adopt more stringent rules if the TCEQ approves them.

Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 285: On-Site Sewage Facilities

Additional Regulations

Applications and Forms

Interlocal Agreements

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