Septic rules in Bedford County
Two offices matter: the health department for permits and the county for the lake pump-out rule.
Permits from the Bedford office
The Bedford County Health Department, in the Central Virginia Health District, permits septic systems and wells at (540) 586-7952. Our guide to septic permits covers what comes first on a new system.
What the five-year lake rule says
In March 2024 the Board of Supervisors amended Chapter 10 of the county code. A dwelling within 500 feet of the full pond elevation of Smith Mountain Lake or Leesville Lake with a private sewage system must have it pumped at least once every five years and kept in good repair.
The county mails notices in phases over five years. Owners have three months after a notice to comply, and non-compliance can bring a civil penalty under Section 10-3e. Homes on public sewer, or with a residential alternative onsite system maintained under VDH rules, are exempt. If that is you, tell Community Development so the records match.
Registering a pump-out at Community Development
After the pump-out, apply for a zoning permit called Mandatory Sewage Disposal System Pump-out, in person at Community Development on East Main Street in Bedford or online. You need proof from a VDH-certified sewage handler showing the date, the location and what was done. Our pumping service can supply that paperwork, and a riser keeps the lid reachable.
Franklin County, across the lake, has its own 500-foot rule and Pittsylvania follows state guidance, so check the county line before you assume. Our Smith Mountain Lake page covers the shoreline.
Where Bedford County sewer ends
The county’s economic development office names the Bedford Regional Water Authority as its water and sewer provider but does not map the service area, so call the authority with your address.
State rules keep a septic tank and drain field at least 50 feet from a lake or stream. Near the lake that distance, plus the slope of a shoreline lot, limits where a field can go. Soil in this part of the Piedmont is largely red clay, which drains slowly.
What we do in Bedford County
Besides pumping, we do real estate septic inspections, tank location for owners who inherited a house without records, and tank installation after a permit. Keep your pump-out receipt with your closing papers, since a buyer or lender may ask for it.
Bedford, Forest and the Roanoke Valley
See our pages for the town of Bedford, Forest and the Roanoke Valley. Campbell County lies to the east.
Buying or selling a home in Bedford County
Virginia does not require a septic inspection to sell a house. Since July 1, 2025, an inspection a lender, agent or buyer asks for must be done by a licensed inspector to the minimum standards in Va. Code § 59.1-310.9. On the lake, also ask the seller for the latest pump-out record, because the five-year rule travels with the property. The county’s list of affected properties and the health department’s files show what is on record.
Planning your pump-out before the notice arrives
A pump-out visit means opening both lids, pumping the tank, checking the baffles and noting the condition of the outlet. If a notice comes for a rental or second home, send it to the owner right away, since the clock starts with the notice. Our pumping schedule guide covers households that need it more often than every five years.
Reaching Dunn Rite from the lake or the east side
Call (434) 221-9885. The east side of the county is closer to Lynchburg than the lake, so give us your road when you call and the office can say how the trip is handled.
Pascat photo requestPhoto needed hereSeptic riser lid on a wooded lakeside lot with the shoreline slope visible behind it, shot from standing height in overcast light, lid and collar clear.
Common questions
Do I have to pump my septic tank every five years in Bedford County?
Only if your home is within 500 feet of the full pond elevation of Smith Mountain Lake or Leesville Lake and uses a private sewage system. Elsewhere in the county there is no such local rule, though the household may still need pumping sooner. Check the county’s property list or call Community Development.
What happens after I get a pump-out notice?
The county gives owners three months to comply. Pump the tank, then register it with a zoning permit using proof from a VDH-certified sewage handler. Non-compliance can bring a civil penalty under Section 10-3e of the county code, so do not let the notice sit in a drawer.
Who is exempt from the lake pump-out rule?
Homes on public sewer, and homes with a residential alternative onsite system maintained under state regulations. If either describes your house and you received a notice, tell Bedford County Community Development so your record is marked correctly and you are not billed for work you do not owe.
What paperwork proves my tank was pumped?
A record from a Virginia Department of Health certified sewage handler showing the date, the location and the services done. You submit it with the Mandatory Sewage Disposal System Pump-out zoning permit application. Keep a copy for a future sale, because a buyer or lender may ask to see it.
Is the lake rule the same on the Franklin County side?
No. Franklin County has required pumping or inspection every five years within 500 feet of the shoreline since July 2006, with registration through its own program. Pittsylvania County follows state health department guidance. Read the rules for the county your parcel is in.
Sources
- Central Virginia Health District locations
- Central Virginia Health District environmental health
- Sewage Handling and Disposal Regulations, 12VAC5-610 Part IV
- Soil in Virginia, Virginia Places
- Bedford County mandatory sewage disposal system pump-out
- Bedford County news on the pump-out ordinance
- Bedford economic development utilities
- Franklin County septic pump-out program
- Va. Code 59.1-310.9, septic inspections in real estate transactions