Private Wells and Sewage Disposal Systems

The Rural Sanitation By-Law specifies you must have a permit to install or replace a private sewage disposal or private water supply system on properties in the City of St. John's.

Any property developed with a private on-site water system must install an artesian (drilled) well as a condition of approval of the application.

Aside from City approval, the Province also must approve these applications. We send the application to Service NL on your behalf. They will forward comments on the application directly back to the City.

When provincial approval is granted, we will issue you a permit. We require a $2,000 refundable deposit before any permits are issued. We refund the deposit when Service NL determines that the private sewage disposal or private water supply system has been property sited and installed. We will not give a final Occupancy Certificate until written verification comes from Service NL.