Finding Your Septic Tank: Records, Drawings, Probing and Lid Safety

Start with the paperwork. The health district may hold a permit drawing with the tank location, and SRHD takes record drawing requests by parcel number and street address. If there is no record, a steel rod probe or a professional with experience finding buried tanks is next. Never enter a tank.

Call (509) 463-4972 Email us a question

Last reviewed: October 26, 2026

Why finding the tank matters

Pumping, inspection and repair all start at the tank opening. Many systems are completely buried, according to the Washington Department of Health, so a system may have no lids at the surface. Buyers, new owners and people who inherit a property often have no idea where the tank is. Knowing it is also a safety matter, since the Department says owners should know where their lids or covers are and keep them secure.

Step 1: Look for records

The Department of Health says to contact your local health department if you cannot find the opening. The health department has likely issued permits for the system, which may include a map of the tank location. If the health department has no record on file, contact a professional septic system company, which has experience finding difficult-to-spot tanks.

Spokane County. SRHD says to request a copy of an as-built or record drawing through its Public Records Request Center and to include the parcel number and street address of the site. Some records may also be available on its Accela Citizen Access site.
Northeast Washington (Stevens, Pend Oreille and Ferry counties). The Northeast Tri County Health District serves the area from offices in Colville, Newport and Republic, and handles septic records for the area.
North Idaho. Idaho DEQ says the public health districts assist with property-specific questions about permitting, existing systems and permit records. For Kootenai, Bonner, Boundary, Benewah and Shoshone counties that is the Panhandle Health District.

What a record drawing shows

WAC 246-272A-0265 requires a record drawing when a system is built or altered. It must be accurate to within half a foot and include the location of all tank openings, buried pipes and cables, the dispersal component and the reserve area, along with the dimensions of the installation. Idaho's rule on as-built drawings in IDAPA 58.01.03 section 011 is similar, and requires them to be completed before the system receives wastewater. Older systems may predate these requirements, so a drawing may not exist. If the district has no drawing, the owner or a professional has to find the tank.

Step 2: Look at the property

Find where the main sewer line leaves the house. This is usually on the side closest to the bathrooms, kitchen or laundry, and is often visible in a basement or crawl space.
Look for a round or rectangular lid, a riser, or a mound of ground that sits slightly different from the lawn around it.
Look for the drain field. It is usually downhill from the tank, and often has greener or drier grass patterns.
Check for old markers, flags or stakes left by an earlier owner or installer.

Step 3: Probe, carefully

SRHD's tank inspection fact sheet describes how to find a buried tank with a steel rod gently tapped into the ground, starting five feet from where the sanitary sewer leaves the house. This is a way to find the tank top, not to dig. Before pushing anything into the ground, check where the water line, electrical cable and the drain field might be. WAC 246-272A-0200 asks for pipe and cable locations on the site plan because they are easy to damage.

Step 4: Mark it and record it

Once the tank is found, write it down. Make a sketch with measurements from two fixed points such as a corner of the house and a property line. Under WAC 246-272A-0238, the health officer may allow tank access to be up to six inches below finished grade only if a marker shows the tank access location, so a marker is the standard way to record a buried lid. A riser lifts the lid to the surface, and the risers and lids page covers it.

Safety rules

Never enter a septic tank. SRHD warns that poisonous gases or a lack of oxygen can be fatal.
Never leave an open lid unattended, and secure it afterward with bolts, screws or other locks.
Never drive or park vehicles on a tank or drain field.
Call the utility locate service before any digging, which is a state requirement in Washington and Idaho.

If you are buying a home

Finding the tank is also the first step of an inspection for a home sale. Washington is moving to a transfer inspection beginning February 1, 2027, and SRHD already requires one. The home sale septic inspection page explains the rules. A buyer can ask the seller for the maintenance records and the record drawing, which WAC 246-272A-0270 requires the seller to give to the buyer, in addition to the seller disclosure.

What changes the price

This site does not quote prices. Finding a tank can take a few minutes with a good record or much longer without one, and a buried tank has to be dug before it can be pumped or inspected. A written scope before work starts helps. See the pumping cost guide.

Reasons to trust this page

Records advice comes from the Washington Department of Health, SRHD, Idaho DEQ and the Northeast Tri County Health District.
Drawing requirements come from WAC 246-272A-0265 and IDAPA 58.01.03.
The probing method comes from SRHD's fact sheet.
The utility locate statement is general public knowledge and is flagged for review.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I find out where my septic tank is?

Start with the health district. The Washington Department of Health says permits may include a map of the tank, and SRHD takes record drawing requests with a parcel number and street address. If no record exists, probing with a steel rod or a professional experienced in finding buried tanks is the next step.

What is a septic record drawing?

It is the as-built plan filed with the health district when a system is built or changed. Washington requires it to be accurate to half a foot and show all tank openings, buried pipes and cables, and the reserve area. Idaho requires as-built drawings to be completed before the system receives wastewater.

How do I probe for a buried septic tank?

SRHD's fact sheet suggests a steel rod gently tapped into the ground, starting five feet from where the sanitary sewer leaves the house. Go slowly and avoid water lines, electrical cable and the drain field. Never enter the tank, and call a professional if you cannot find it.

Why do some septic systems have no visible lid?

Many systems are completely buried, according to the Washington Department of Health, so there may be no lids at the surface. Washington allows tank access up to six inches below grade if a marker shows its location, and a riser can bring a buried opening to the surface for later visits.

Who has septic records for my property?

The local health district holds permits and drawings: SRHD in Spokane County, the Northeast Tri County Health District in Stevens, Pend Oreille and Ferry counties, and in North Idaho the Panhandle Health District, which Idaho DEQ says helps with permit records and existing systems. Ask for the permit history of the parcel.

Sources

Request a quote

Tell us the town, what you need and anything you know about the tank. Your details go to this site's inbox.