Land Lot Inspections & Subdivision of Land

The Fairfield County Health Department performs on-site evaluations of existing deeded lots to determine whether the lot can be developed for commercial or residential use. An Order One Soil Survey is required for the lot, but there is no minimum acreage requirement for an existing lot to be evaluated. If you are interested in a lot smaller than 2.0 acres, contact the health department to ensure the lot can be properly developed.

Health department approval is required for all new lots, including the remainder, regardless of size. Applying for a subdivision of land should be your first step before splitting land or creating a new lot, and approval should be obtained before the proposed split is surveyed. Proposed lot lines may need to be adjusted based on the Order One Soil Survey.

Any proposed new lot must contain a usable area with soils suitable for a sewage treatment system, a contiguous area of land not divided or limited by a waterway, easement, right-of-way, or other site or soil limitation. The department uses the Order One Soil Survey to determine where sewage treatment systems can be placed, and proposed lot lines must accommodate those locations.

If a proposed lot is intended for a use other than commercial or residential development (e.g. agricultural or recreational), only an application is required, accompanied by a signed written statement outlining the proposed use.

1. An Order One Soil Evaluation must be performed by a soil professional for each proposed lot.
2. Submit an application along with the soil report to the Environmental Office.
3. Mow or cut vegetation to ankle level, lots with high grass, brush, or crops cannot be adequately inspected. For wooded lots, only underbrush must be removed.
4. In addition to health department approval, obtain approval from the Fairfield County Regional Planning Office (opens in a new window, leaves this site) and the Engineer's Office (opens in a new window, leaves this site). A "blue sheet" must be signed by all three agencies.

Guidance for lot splits (opens in a new window, leaves this site)