Roughly a third of the homes The Klassen Group shows buyers each year sit outside Salina's city limits, in unincorporated Saline County. That is a different rulebook than a city lot. Instead of city water and sewer, most of these properties run on a private well and a septic system or lagoon, and both fall under the Saline County Sanitary Code for Environmental Protection, adopted by the Saline County Board of County Commissioners.
If you are buying or selling a property in the county, here is what the code actually requires.
Septic and wastewater system inspection is required at sale
Under Section 9.5-73(e), whenever a property served by a septic system, lagoon, or alternative wastewater treatment system is offered for sale or goes under contract, the Administrative Agency must inspect the condition of the system, at a fee currently around $250, paid to the county. If the inspection finds the system inadequate, failing, or in need of repairs, it has to be corrected before closing, or the buyer and seller need to make other arrangements with the county before the sale can close.
Private well inspection is required at sale too
Section 9.5-105(c) applies the same logic to private water supplies. When a property connected to a private well is offered for sale or under contract, the county evaluates the wellhead and tests the water for bacteria, nitrate, and chloride, screened against EPA primary and secondary maximum contaminant levels. This is a separate fee, also around $250, and a separate inspection from the septic evaluation.
Minimum separation distances to know
These distances come up constantly on rural showings, especially when a buyer wants to know if a shop, barn, or second well is buildable on a lot. Per Section 9.5-106, a private well must be separated from the following by at least:
| Source | Minimum separation from well |
|---|---|
| Subsurface absorption field (septic drain field) | 100 feet |
| Septic tank | 50 feet |
| Pit privy | 100 feet |
| Streams, lakes, and ponds | 50 feet |
| Barnyard, stables, manure piles, animal pens | 50 feet |
| Property lines | 50 feet |
| Petroleum and fertilizer storage | 100 feet |
The code also sets a minimum lot size of three acres, exclusive of roads and rights-of-way, for any newly constructed private wastewater treatment system, and it limits each residence to one private wastewater system, with accessory systems requiring county approval.
Getting the timing right on a rural sale
- List the property. If it is served by a private well or septic system, note that county inspections will be required as part of the sale process.
- Contract goes into effect. This is the trigger point where the county requires the septic and well inspections to be scheduled.
- County inspects the wastewater system and the well. Fees are paid to the Administrative Agency for each inspection.
- Review results. If either system fails, repairs need to be made, or the parties negotiate an arrangement with the county, before closing.
- Closing. Once systems are compliant, or arrangements are approved, the sale can close on schedule.
Because both inspections take time to schedule, this is one of the biggest reasons rural closings in Saline County can run longer than an in-town sale. Building in extra time upfront avoids a scramble later.
Other rules that come up on rural properties
A few other provisions of the code are worth knowing if you are considering a property outside city limits:
- Inoperable vehicles. The code limits how many inoperable vehicles can be kept on a property: no more than five if the lot is 10 acres or larger, or three if it is smaller, and they must be screened from public view.
- Open burning and dumping. Open dumping is prohibited, and burning solid waste is only allowed in accordance with fire district and county burning regulations.
- Alternative wastewater systems. These require an annual operating permit and a signed maintenance agreement with a licensed provider, renewed each January 1.
Buying or selling a rural property in Saline County? The Klassen Group can walk you through what to expect from the septic and well inspection process before you write or accept an offer.
Call or text 785-201-4341 or contact us here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does every home sale in Saline County require a septic inspection?
A septic or wastewater inspection is required under the county code only when the property is served by a septic system, lagoon, or alternative treatment system rather than city sewer. Homes inside Salina city limits and on city sewer are not subject to this county requirement.
How much does the septic and well inspection cost?
Each inspection currently runs around $250, paid to the Administrative Agency. The septic and well inspections are billed separately, so a property with both systems has two fees. The Saline County Sanitary Code requires the inspections but does not assign the cost to buyer or seller specifically. That is typically negotiated between the parties in the purchase agreement.
What happens if the septic system fails inspection?
Under Section 9.5-73(e), the system must be corrected before closing, or the buyer and seller need to make appropriate arrangements with the county's Administrative Agency before the sale can close.
How is the well water tested?
Per Section 9.5-105(c), the county evaluates the wellhead and takes a water sample screened for bacteria, nitrate, and chloride, reported against EPA primary and secondary maximum contaminant levels.
How much land do I need for a private septic system?
The code requires a minimum of three acres, exclusive of roads and rights-of-way, for a new private wastewater treatment system, with one system allowed per residence.
Does a county septic or well inspection work like a home warranty?
No. The code specifically states the inspection is not a warranty, and neither the Administrative Agency nor the Board of Health is liable for future system failures.
Where can I find the full Saline County Sanitary Code?
The code is maintained by Saline County and covers wastewater and excreta management, water supplies, solid waste management, and public health nuisances. Your agent or the county's Administrative Agency can provide the current version.
John Klassen is a Licensed REALTOR® and co-founder of The Klassen Group at Salina Homes, serving buyers and sellers in Salina and Saline County, Kansas. Reach John at 785-201-4341 or through salinaliving.com/contact.