The Clarke County Online Responsible Maintenance Entity (ORME) database was established in 2025 in order to provide an online publicly accessible, complete and up to date database, of all septic records in the County.  These records will assist homeowners, contractors, and septic providers in understanding the system type, maintenance requirements, and in some cases, the location of wells and septic systems.  The system will also be used to remind property owners when inspection and maintenance of conventional and alternative systems are due.  Inspection and maintenance of onsite septic systems is critical to ensure proper sewage treatment and protect the County’s groundwater, the rural drinking water supply. 

Click here to access records

Click here for a list of Septic System Service providers

Please be advised:  Not all service providers are licensed to inspect alternative systems, ask your provider before they come to the property.  Certain licensed operators may also provide maintenance and can combine visits for maintenance and inspection. However, please recognize that maintenance is not inspection and inspection is not maintenance.

 Use Clarke County’s online mapping, choose the layer “exclusive sewer service area” to see if your property is within those areas.  There is also a link to online RME in the Details Information for individual properties.

Tips for Searching Online RME

• Confirm the search criteria and update if necessary: STATE=Virginia and COUNTY=Clarke County
• Search by Site Address or Tax ID,
• If you receive a “No Results Found” message, contact the Clarke County Planning Department for general assistance at 540-955-5177, ateetor@clarkecounty.gov or the Clarke County Health Department, with technical questions at 540-955-1033.

For information on navigating ORME click here

Notes for landowners:

• Vacant parcels may have records uploaded that include certification letters, subdivision plats, and previous applications.
• There are many parcels with multiple addressed structures and in most cases multiple septic systems.  Only the largest or alternative systems are described; information on other systems, if present, will be found in the uploaded files.
• No system – these are parcels that have addressed structures such as historic churches and water towers that don’t necessarily require a system, or  properties that have an addressed structure that haven’t been constructed yet and have no associated septic system records. 
• Unknown – these are structures with no Health Department approval.  In many cases there are no records or there is a permit to install or construction permit with no record of inspection or final approval.  All residents with these systems will be encouraged to have the system inspected to obtain approval.
• The attached permits have map#’s that were current at the time of issue but have since been changed. In most cases the current tax map# is labelled on the permit. The records were filed by Health Department Environmental Health Specialists and date back to the 1950’s. Every effort was made to ensure that the correct permit is uploaded to the correct map#. 

Types of septic systems described in online RME:

• Conventional – systems that have a septic tank distribution box and drainfield
• Alternative – systems that have a complex pretreatment system and require annual inspection and maintenance
• Low Pressure Distribution (LPD) – considered alternative systems, use discontinued in 2011.  These systems require annual inspection and maintenance
• Cesspool – very old systems not approved for sewage disposal by the Health Department
• Unknown – these are structures with no Health Department approval.  In many cases there are no records or there is a permit to install or construction permit with no record of inspection or final approval.  All residents with these systems will be encouraged to have the system inspected to obtain approval. 
• No system – these are parcels that have addressed structures such as historic churches and water towers, that don’t necessarily require a system, or  properties that have an address but the structure has not been built. 
• Public sewer – provided by the Clarke County Sanitary Authority or Town of Berryville
• Vacant parcels – if available files have been uploaded
• Conditional permits - systems are no longer permitted but prior to 11/19/2002 the Health Department issued permits to allow the number of bedrooms to exceed the permitted occupancy.  Currently 1 bedroom would require 150 gallon/per day capacity and provide for 2 full-time occupants.  A conditional permit might allow for 1 bedroom not to exceed 4 occupants and include a requirement for installation of low flow plumbing fixtures – this should be described in the detailed description

Go to the Guidance Manual for answers to these Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ).

What is an onsite septic system?

How do I access my septic & well records?

Why should I have my septic system inspected and maintained?

What type of maintenance do onsite septic systems require?

Who do I contact to get my septic system inspected or maintained?

Who do I contact if my septic pumpout hasn’t been reported?

Who do I contact with questions regarding my septic & well permits?