Well and Septic in Teton County, Idaho (Driggs and Victor) — Costs and Permit Order

The short answer

On a Teton County lot without city services, you’re permitting a septic system through Eastern Idaho Public Health (EIPH) and a well through the Idaho Department of Water Resources (IDWR). Septic comes first. Teton County will not approve a building permit until the EIPH septic permit has been issued. Septic is the longest lead item in the whole permit package, so start it before anything else.

The order of operations

1. Site plan. Have it prepared by a surveyor or engineer. The same plan goes to the building department, grading and erosion control, and septic review.
2. Soil evaluation. EIPH evaluates the soil and sets the drainfield size and system type: a standard trench or an alternative system. Until that happens, the well and drainfield locations on your site plan are only conceptual. The plan also needs a reserve area for a replacement drainfield.
3. Septic permit issued. This is the gate for everything else.
4. Grading and Erosion Control (GEC) permit. Teton County requires one for any disturbance over 1,500 sq ft, and you can’t touch dirt until it’s approved. The fee is $150 by cash or check ($153 by card), paid up front and non-refundable. Applications go to Public Works in Driggs.
5. Building permit. The county approves it once septic is issued and the GEC permit is approved.
6. Well. File the IDWR well permit or driller start card. It isn’t on the county’s building checklist, but you can’t occupy the home without it.
7. Before occupancy. Teton County requires state electrical and plumbing finals and EIPH septic approval before it issues a certificate of occupancy.

If the lot can connect to city sewer instead, say in Victor, you need a connection agreement with the city in place of the septic permit.

If you disturb more than an acre, you’ll also need an EPA Construction General Permit.

What it costs

Guardian’s working budget ranges for well and septic on an Eastern Idaho lot:

An alternative system costs more than a standard trench. Which one you get depends on the soil evaluation, not on what you’d prefer.

How it fits the rest of a Teton build

Teton County is a mountain jurisdiction, and the septic permit is only one gate. Roof snow load is 85 psf, rising to 100 psf for lots above 6,600 feet. Frost depth is 32 inches below finished grade. The county is also a dark-sky county. Plans need to be stamped by an Idaho-licensed structural engineer. More in what it costs to build in Teton Valley and Idaho building permits by county.

Who to call