Sourced from SCDES agency documentation, Act 60 of 2023 (S. 399), and S.C. Code Regs. R.61-56 — last checked August 2026.
What Happened
Under state law, DHEC was abolished and its responsibilities divided between two newly created cabinet agencies:
| Agency | What it took |
|---|---|
| SCDES Dept. of Environmental Services |
Environmental programs — including onsite wastewater and septic permitting, air quality, coastal management, land and waste, and water |
| DPH Dept. of Public Health |
Public health and healthcare quality programs. Not septic. |
The change came from S. 399, signed by Governor McMaster as Act 60 in 2023, with an effective date of July 1, 2024. The DHEC Board was abolished and both new agencies now sit within the Governor’s cabinet.
SCDES also absorbed the hydrology and aquatic nuisance species programs from the Department of Natural Resources. The retail food program and the milk and dairy lab went to the Department of Agriculture.
What It Means For You
Your permits still stand. The agency was explicit that existing permits remain in effect after July 1, 2024. A DHEC-issued septic permit didn’t become invalid.
Your contacts largely didn’t change. During the transition the agency stated that existing emails and phone numbers would continue to work, and that local environmental offices would remain at their existing locations.
The website is different. Septic information now lives at des.sc.gov. Within SCDES, septic tanks sit under the Bureau of Regional and Laboratory Services.
The regulation didn’t change. S.C. Code Regs. R.61-56, Onsite Wastewater Systems, still governs. What changed is who administers it, not what it says.
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Why This Page Exists
Because a great deal of published guidance hasn’t caught up. Septic advice articles written well after the transition still tell South Carolina homeowners to apply to DHEC for a construction permit — an agency that stopped handling septic in mid-2024.
It’s an understandable lag. Agency reorganizations don’t generate much coverage, and content written from older sources inherits the error. But if you call the wrong agency, or search for forms under the wrong name, you’ll waste time.
What To Do
Go to des.sc.gov for current septic information, forms and regional office contacts.
If you find a DHEC form or page, check whether a current SCDES version exists before relying on it.
If you’re looking at older records — a permit from 2019, say — the DHEC name on it is normal and doesn’t mean anything is wrong.
If you’re mid-application and confused about who to contact, your SCDES regional office is the place to start.
South Carolina Septic Guide — Free Tool
Are You Ready for Your Site Evaluation?
Before SCDES performs a site evaluation, R.61-56.104 requires the applicant to prepare the lot — seven specific things. Miss one and the visit can be wasted. Almost nobody tells homeowners this in advance, so here it is as a checklist.
• A boundary plat, deed, or other legal document specifying lot size
• A legal description with lot boundary lengths — required for lots two acres or smaller, and on request for larger lots
• Written permission for SCDES representatives to access the property, on the Department’s form
• Easements for ingress and egress, if the system will use a remote subsurface wastewater infiltration area
Requirements drawn from S.C. Code Regs. R.61-56.104. SCDES may request additional information, and your regional office is the authority on your specific application. Except for systems designed by a Registered Professional Engineer, installers must arrange the final inspection with the Department in advance.
Local rules vary a great deal by county — mandatory connection distances, lake buffers, pre-sale inspections and repair grants. See our South Carolina septic permits by county guide.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does DHEC still issue septic permits in South Carolina?
No. On July 1, 2024 DHEC was split into two agencies. Septic permitting went to the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES) at des.sc.gov.
Why did DHEC split up?
Under S. 399, signed by Governor McMaster as Act 60 in 2023. DHEC was abolished and its responsibilities divided between SCDES for environmental programs and the Department of Public Health for health programs.
Is my old DHEC septic permit still valid?
Yes. The agency stated that existing permits remain in effect after July 1, 2024. A DHEC-issued permit did not become invalid.
Did the septic regulations change?
No. S.C. Code Regs. R.61-56 still governs onsite wastewater systems. What changed is which agency administers it.
Where do I find septic information now?
des.sc.gov. Within SCDES, septic tanks sit under the Bureau of Regional and Laboratory Services.