The 500-foot pump-out rule on Bedford County’s shore
Bedford County Code Chapter 10 covers lakes and waterways. Under Section 10-3, any dwelling within 500 feet of Smith Mountain Lake or Leesville Lake, measured from the full pond elevation, that uses a private sewage system must have the system pumped at least once every five years. The Board of Supervisors adopted the current version on March 11, 2024.
The county phases the program in over five years and mails notices to owners it has identified. Owners who receive a notice have three months to comply. A notice in your mailbox means your property is on the list.
Who is exempt
A home on public sewer is exempt. So is a home with a residential alternative onsite system that is inspected and maintained under the Virginia Department of Health’s alternative system rules. If either describes your house and you got a notice anyway, tell Community Development so its records can be corrected.
What happens if you skip it
The county states that failure to comply can bring a civil penalty. Ask Bedford County Community Development about the amount.
Registering a lake pump-out with Bedford County
The pump-out is only half the job. After it is done, you apply to Bedford County for a zoning permit titled Mandatory Sewage Disposal System Pump-out. You can apply in person at the Administration Building, 122 East Main Street in Bedford, or online through the county’s Citizens Self-Service System.
The application needs proof of the pump-out showing the date, the location and the work done, from a sewage handler certified by the Virginia Department of Health. A small county registration fee applies.
When we pump a lake tank, ask for the paperwork in that form before the truck leaves.
A pump-out on a steep, wooded lake lot
Lake lots are often steep, wooded and tight, so the first problem is usually finding and reaching the lid. If it is buried, tank and drain field location comes first. A riser brings the lid up to grade, which makes the next pump-out quicker and the five-year cycle easier to keep.
The crew pumps the tank, checks the baffles and outlet, and notes anything that needs attention. The details of the visit are on the pumping page.
If the pump-out shows the drain field is the problem
Pumping empties the tank but does not repair a saturated drain field. Soggy ground, odor near the water, or slow drains after a pump-out point to the field, and the warning signs guide lists what to look for. Depending on the cause, the answer may be jetting the lines or replacing part of the field.
Any repair or replacement needs a permit from the health department before work starts. The health department, not Dunn Rite, approves a design and issues the permit, so confirm the requirements with the Bedford County Health Department.
Franklin County’s rule on its side of the lake
The lake borders more than one county, and the rule you follow depends on which shore your lot is on. Franklin County has its own program, in place since July 2006: systems within 500 feet of the Smith Mountain Lake shoreline must be pumped or inspected every five years, and owners register the system with the county. The two programs are separate, so check with the county your parcel is in.
Buying a lakefront house on septic
If you are buying a lakefront house, ask whether the property is within the 500-foot zone and when the tank was last pumped and registered. A real estate septic inspection shows the condition of the tank and field before closing. The buying and selling guide explains what Virginia does and does not require.
Pascat photo requestPhoto needed hereSeptic tank lid with a new riser on a wooded lakeside lot, shot from standing height in flat light, water visible beyond the trees.
Common questions
Does the pump-out rule apply to my Smith Mountain Lake house?
It applies if the dwelling is in Bedford County, is within 500 feet of the lake at full pond elevation, and uses a private septic system. Houses on public sewer or on an inspected alternative onsite system are exempt. The county’s property list, or a call to Community Development, settles it.
How do I prove to Bedford County that my tank was pumped?
Apply for the Mandatory Sewage Disposal System Pump-out zoning permit, in person at 122 East Main Street in Bedford or online. You attach proof from a VDH-certified sewage handler showing the date, location and work performed. Keep a copy with your closing papers, since a buyer may ask for it later.
What happens if I never got a notice but live near the lake?
The county is phasing the program in over five years, so not every owner is notified in the same year. If your tank is within 500 feet of the lake, contact Bedford County Community Development at the Administration Building in Bedford rather than waiting for a letter. Compliance runs from the notice.
Is the Franklin County pump-out rule the same as Bedford’s?
No. Franklin County runs its own program for its shore, with the same 500-foot distance and five-year cycle, but owners there may pump or inspect and must register through Franklin County. Bedford requires a pump-out and a Bedford zoning permit. Check with the county your parcel is in.
Can a riser help with the five-year pump-out?
A riser puts the tank lid at ground level, so the crew does not dig each time and you can see the lid when the date comes around. It does not change what the county requires. It makes the pump-out and the proof of service easier to arrange, especially on a wooded or steep lot.
Who do I call about a drain field problem at the lake?
Call Dunn Rite at (434) 221-9885 to look at the system. For a permit to repair or replace a field, the Bedford County Health Department at (540) 586-7952 is the authority, and it will say what the lot allows near the shoreline before any digging starts.