Must a Timberlake house connect to county sewer?
Under Section 18-3 of the Campbell County Code, a residential, commercial or industrial building must connect to a public sewer administered by the Campbell County Utilities and Service Authority (CCUSA) if the lot abuts the right-of-way or easement holding the sewer and the building is within 400 feet of it. The connection has to be made in the most direct manner possible.
There is an exception. If the shortest distance from the lot’s boundary to the nearest sewer is more than 75 feet, connection is not required. You can still connect voluntarily by paying the applicable fees.
Keeping a working septic tank after sewer arrives
The code says an owner whose private system meets Virginia Department of Health standards does not have to stop using it.
Staying on septic can still cost money. The code allows CCUSA to charge a connection fee, a front footage fee and a monthly nonuser service charge. CCUSA may exempt or defer those charges for owners who hold a tax exemption or deferral under the county’s elderly and disabled relief ordinance. Call CCUSA with your parcel before you decide.
Caring for a septic tank on a Timberlake lot
A working tank needs pumping on a schedule that fits the household and tank size. Keep grease and wipes out of the drains and vehicles off the field; the drain field guide has the details.
If a tank is buried or the map is missing, locating the tank and field comes before any work.
When a Timberlake drain field fails
A failing field leaves you choosing between repair and sewer. Drain field jetting can restore flow in some systems. If it cannot, compare a new field against the connection costs CCUSA quotes.
Section 18-35 of the county code bars a building permit for a non-sewer system until the health department approves it, and Section 18-39 requires a septic tank to be inspected and approved before it is covered or put to use.
Septic permits for Timberlake owners
Permits for septic work go through the Campbell County Health Department at 116 Kabler Lane in Rustburg, (434) 592-9550. The Campbell County page covers the wider county.
Haulers who pump tanks hold a VDH sewage handling permit and their trucks are inspected, so ask any pumper to show theirs. Backups go to emergency septic service.
Pascat photo requestPhoto needed hereTechnician guiding a pump hose to an exposed tank opening in a Timberlake-area backyard, shot from ten feet back at eye level in clear daylight.
Common questions
How close does sewer have to be before Campbell County requires a connection?
The building must be within 400 feet of a CCUSA sewer, and the lot must abut the right-of-way or easement holding it. If the lot boundary is more than 75 feet from the nearest sewer, connection is not mandatory, though voluntary hookup is allowed. CCUSA can tell you how the measurement applies to your parcel.
If I keep my septic system after sewer arrives, will I be charged?
Possibly. The county code lets CCUSA charge owners who stay on septic a connection fee, a front footage fee and a monthly nonuser charge. Owners with a tax exemption or deferral under the county’s elderly and disabled relief ordinance may be exempted or deferred. Ask CCUSA what applies to your parcel before you decide.
Which health department covers Timberlake?
The Campbell County Health Department at 116 Kabler Lane, Rustburg, phone (434) 592-9550. It issues septic and well permits for the county. Lynchburg’s office is the district headquarters, but permits for a Campbell County address are handled in Rustburg, so call there first when you plan a repair or replacement.
Do I need an inspection before covering a new septic tank in Campbell County?
Yes. Section 18-39 of the county code says septic tanks are inspected by a health department representative and approved before they may be covered or used. With the construction permit, that means leaving the tank uncovered until the inspector has looked at it, or you risk digging it up again.
Can Dunn Rite check my Timberlake tank before I decide on sewer?
Yes. Pumping the tank and looking at the baffles, outlet and distribution box tells you whether the tank is sound, and a visit to the field shows whether it is holding water. That gives you a repair-versus-connect comparison with real facts. Call (434) 221-9885 and describe what you see in the yard.