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Soil and Septic Site Evaluators in Wake, NC
43 licensed evaluators serving Wake, North Carolina.
43 Licensed Soil Scientist
About soil and septic evaluations in North Carolina
North Carolina septic approval is based on a soil and site evaluation under 15A NCAC 18E, not a standalone percolation-rate result, and there is no single credential that performs every evaluation. Three separate paths exist: the county path, where your local health department's own Environmental Health Specialists evaluate and permit (no license check needed on your end); the Engineered Option Permit (EOP) path, where a professional engineer directs the project while a Licensed Soil Scientist (and a licensed geologist where geology is a factor) performs the soil evaluation; and the Authorized On-Site Wastewater Evaluator (AOWE) path, where a Licensed Soil Scientist who holds a further NCOWCICB certification handles the evaluation directly. Not every Licensed Soil Scientist holds the AOWE add-on, so confirm it separately from the base LSS license using the Board's roster and the NCOWCICB Evaluator List (two different rosters).
County improvement/construction-authorization fees vary by county: Bladen County totals $400 for a new-system permit (plus a $35 AOWE administrative fee), while Brunswick County runs $815 to $1,015 before a $50-$125 plan-review charge, with an added $350 charge specifically to use a private Licensed Soil Scientist's evaluation instead of the county's own. On top of county charges, a private AOWE evaluation was reported by one secondary source (Septic & Well Pro, a content/lead-generation site, not corroborated further) at $300 to $800 -- treat that figure as directional. Check your own county's current fee schedule; these examples illustrate the range, not a statewide norm.
Frequently asked questions
How many licensed soil and septic site evaluators serve Wake, NC?
43 state-licensed evaluators are listed for Wake in our roster, sourced from the North Carolina licensing board: 43 Licensed Soil Scientist.
How much does a perc test or soil evaluation cost in Wake?
County improvement/construction-authorization fees vary by county: Bladen County totals $400 for a new-system permit (plus a $35 AOWE administrative fee), while Brunswick County runs $815 to $1,015 before a $50-$125 plan-review charge, with an added $350 charge specifically to use a private Licensed Soil Scientist's evaluation instead of the county's own. On top of county charges, a private AOWE evaluation was reported by one secondary source (Septic & Well Pro, a content/lead-generation site, not corroborated further) at $300 to $800 -- treat that figure as directional. Check your own county's current fee schedule; these examples illustrate the range, not a statewide norm. Larger parcels, difficult access, and rush requests price above the range.
How do I verify a North Carolina evaluator's license?
Look up the evaluator on the North Carolina Board for Licensing of Soil Scientists (LSS); NC On-Site Wastewater Contractors and Inspectors Certification Board (AOWE) license search at https://ncblss.wordpress.ncsu.edu/files/LSS-Directory-12May26.pdf.