Septic Systems in Fairview: What Owners and Buyers Need to Know

Why septic is the norm in Fairview

Fairview's residential land is mostly zoned for one-acre (RE-1) and two-acre (RE-2) homesites, and most of it is outside the reach of public sewer lines. According to the Town, most of Fairview relies on on-site sewage facilities, usually shortened to OSSF, to treat and dispose of wastewater. Public sewer is concentrated in Heritage Ranch and the commercial district along US 75.

The connection runs both ways. Septic systems need room for a treatment unit and a disposal area, which is one reason Fairview's lots have stayed large, and the large lots in turn make on-site treatment practical.

Aerobic is the rule

There are two broad kinds of residential systems in Texas:

• Conventional (anaerobic) systems: a septic tank and a buried drain field.
• Aerobic treatment units (ATUs): a multi-chamber unit that pumps air into the wastewater to treat it more fully, then disposes of the treated water, typically through surface spray heads in a designated area of the yard.

More than 90 percent of the systems in Fairview are already aerobic, and the Town's ordinance now requires it:

• New systems must be aerobic. The Town does not permit new anaerobic systems.
• Existing conventional systems are grandfathered until they fail. When one fails, it must be replaced with an aerobic unit.

The maintenance contract requirement

If your home has an aerobic system, the Town requires that you:

• Keep a signed contract with a valid maintenance company at all times.
• Submit a copy of each new contract to the Town at least 30 days before the previous contract expires, by email to ossf@fairviewtexas.org.

The Town publishes a list of local maintenance providers. The recorded affidavit that comes with every new aerobic permit also spells out the timeline: a new system is covered by a continuous service policy for its first two years, and after that the owner of an aerobic system for a single-family home must obtain a maintenance contract within 30 days.

Who permits and inspects

In Fairview, the Town handles OSSF permitting rather than the county. The Town's Code Enforcement Officer is the state-certified Designated Representative who issues OSSF permits, performs inspections, and investigates malfunctioning or failing systems. Systems are installed under the state's OSSF rules in Title 30, Chapter 285 of the Texas Administrative Code.

For questions or complaints, the Town lists Dylan Tawwater at dtawwater@fairviewtexas.org or (469) 659-3786.

Permit requirements and fees for a new system

The Town's OSSF permit packet (revised August 2025, posted January 2026) requires two copies of:

1. A site plan showing all existing or proposed buildings, easements, wells, bodies of water, and the proposed treatment and disposal system.
2. A site and soil evaluation by a Professional Engineer or licensed Site Evaluator.
3. Technical data and design materials, prepared by a Professional Engineer or Registered Sanitarian.
4. A signed and notarized Certificate of OSSF Requiring Maintenance, file-stamped by the Collin County Clerk.
5. A signed maintenance agreement with a licensed installer.

After Public Works approves the materials, it issues an Authorization to Construct, and then the permit.

A $50 reinspection fee applies when a red-tag violation requires a return visit. Each new system gets two inspections: a cover-up inspection of the tanks, bedding and subsurface components before excavations are closed, and a final inspection of the whole system. After it passes, the owner and installer receive a Notice of Approval.

Rules for the disposal area

The Town is clear that it does not repair septic systems or guarantee their performance. Keeping the system working is the owner's job, and that includes keeping the disposal area free of:

• Structures
• Parking
• Gravel or concrete
• Trees

It also means keeping people and pets away from system components. In practice this affects how you plan a pool, a driveway extension, a sport court, a workshop or new landscaping: anything that encroaches on the spray or disposal area can put the system out of compliance. Check the system's permitted layout before you design any improvement, and remember that pools, accessory buildings, decks and patio covers also need a Town building permit.

What buyers should check

If you are buying a Fairview home on septic, ask for and review:

• System type and age. Is it aerobic or a grandfathered conventional system? A conventional system will need to be replaced with an aerobic unit when it fails.
• The current maintenance contract, including the provider, expiration date and whether it is transferable. Plan to have a contract in your name on closing so there is no gap.
• The OSSF permit and recorded affidavit. The affidavit filed in the Collin County deed records notes that the permit transfers to the buyer on sale.
• Service and inspection history, including any notices from the Town.
• The disposal area layout relative to where you might add a pool, outbuilding or driveway.

Consider a separate inspection of the septic system by a licensed professional as part of the option period.

Key contacts

• OSSF questions: ossf@fairviewtexas.org; Dylan Tawwater, (469) 659-3786
• Building permits: Permits@FairviewTexas.org, 972-886-4209
• Town Hall: 372 Town Place, 972-562-0522, weekdays 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Last reviewed October 12, 2026. See something out of date? Email info@grisak.com.