Deadline: December 31, 2026
Prefer a quick summary before you apply? View the Ohio Sewage Treatment System Bond application page.
Ohio sewage treatment system installers, service providers and septage haulers must maintain a statewide surety bond for each category of work they register with a local health district. The Ohio Department of Health requires this bond under Section 3718.02(A)(8) of the Ohio Revised Code and Ohio Administrative Code Rule 3701-29-03. Registrations expire at the end of each calendar year, and each bond covers January 1 through December 31. As a result, contractors should obtain their bond before the December 31 deadline each year.
Understanding your bonding requirements can help you avoid licensing delays and remain compliant with Ohio law.
At American Surety Bonds Agency, qualified applicants can purchase this bond online through our Instant Issue platform. This makes it fast and easy to meet the state’s bonding requirements.
Jump to your registration category: Multiple Systems Installer | Single or Small Flow System Installer | Service Provider | Septage Hauler
Also Known As
The Ohio Sewage Treatment System Bond goes by several names depending on where you look.
You may also see it called:
- Ohio STS Registration Bond
- Ohio Septic Installer Bond
- Ohio Septic System Service Provider Bond
- Ohio Septage Hauler Bond
- Ohio Sewage Treatment System Contractor Bond
These all refer to the same statewide registration bonds described on this page. Ohio Sewage Treatment System Bond is simply the common name used across the industry, and the official bond forms are titled Registration Bond for Sewage Treatment Systems Installer, Service Provider or Septage Hauler (Forms HEA 5438, 5439, 5440 and 5448).
What Is an Ohio Sewage Treatment System Bond?
The Ohio Sewage Treatment System Bond is a statewide registration bond required by the Ohio Department of Health for installers, service providers and septage haulers who work on sewage treatment systems in Ohio. You register with each local health district where you work, but you file one bond per category with the department, and that bond covers your work in any health district in the state.
The bond guarantees that the contractor will follow Ohio’s sewage treatment system laws and rules, including Section 3718.02 of the Ohio Revised Code and Ohio Administrative Code Rule 3701-29-03. Because the state sets one uniform bonding requirement, local health districts may not require any additional or different bond as a condition of registration.
If a contractor fails to comply with those legal requirements or causes a covered financial loss, the injured person may file a claim against the bond. Under the rule, a person must give notice of a claim within 18 months of the date the work was completed, which helps protect the property owners who rely on these systems.
Who Needs the Ohio Sewage Treatment System Bond?
You must obtain this bond if you are:
- Registering as a sewage treatment system installer, service provider or septage hauler with an Ohio local health district
- Renewing your registration for a new calendar year
- Moving from a single-system installer bond to a multiple-system installer bond
Ohio requires a separate bond for each category of work. For example, a company that installs systems and also pumps septic tanks needs both an installer bond and a septage hauler bond.
Ohio Sewage Treatment System Bond Requirements by Category
Each registration category has its own bond form, bond amount and premium. Find your category below.
Ohio Sewage Treatment System Installer Bond (Multiple Systems)
| Bond Name | Registration Bond for Sewage Treatment Systems Installer (for Multiple Sewage Treatment Systems) |
| Bond Amount | $40,000 |
| Who Needs It? | Installers who install more than one sewage treatment system in a registration year |
| Obligee | State of Ohio (filed with the Ohio Department of Health) |
| Bond Term | January 1 through December 31 |
| Bond Form | Form HEA 5439 |
| Governing Rule | Ohio Administrative Code Rule 3701-29-03 |
| Processing | Instant Issue available |
Installers who plan to install more than one system during the registration year need the $40,000 multiple-system bond. If you start the year with a single-system bond and later take on more work, you must submit new bond paperwork to the Ohio Department of Health for the multiple-system bond.
Qualified Ohio applicants can obtain this bond online through American Surety Bonds Agency, and the premium starts as low as $200 for one year.
Ohio Sewage Treatment System Installer Bond (One System)
| Bond Name | Registration Bond for Sewage Treatment Systems Installer for installation of only one STS in a registration year |
| Bond Amount (Household System) | Equal to the system cost |
| Bond Amount (Small Flow System) | $25,000 |
| Who Needs It? | Installers who install only one sewage treatment system in a registration year |
| Obligee | State of Ohio (filed with the Ohio Department of Health) |
| Bond Term | January 1 through December 31 |
| Bond Form | Form HEA 5448 |
| Governing Rule | Ohio Administrative Code Rule 3701-29-03 |
| Processing | Instant Issue available |
This bond covers the installation of one system during the registration year, and the bond form names the health district where you will install it. For a household sewage treatment system, the bond amount equals the cost of the system. For a small flow on-site treatment system, the bond amount is $25,000.
Qualified Ohio applicants can obtain this bond online through American Surety Bonds Agency. For the $25,000 small flow bond, the premium starts as low as $125 for one year. For a household system, you enter the system cost and the portal calculates your premium.
Obtain Your Ohio Single or Small Flow System Installer Bond Online
Ohio Sewage Treatment System Service Provider Bond
| Bond Name | Registration Bond for Sewage Treatment Systems Service Provider |
| Bond Amount (Service Provider Only) | $25,000 |
| Bond Amount (Also Registered as an Installer) | $15,000 |
| Who Needs It? | Contractors who service or maintain sewage treatment systems |
| Obligee | State of Ohio (filed with the Ohio Department of Health) |
| Bond Term | January 1 through December 31 |
| Bond Form | Form HEA 5438 |
| Governing Rule | Ohio Administrative Code Rule 3701-29-03 |
| Processing | Instant Issue available |
Service providers need a $25,000 bond. However, if you are also registered as an installer, the rule reduces your service provider bond to $15,000, and the bond form asks for your installer bond number.
Qualified Ohio applicants can obtain this bond online through American Surety Bonds Agency. The premium starts as low as $100 for one year for the $15,000 bond and $125 for one year for the $25,000 bond.
Ohio Sewage Treatment System Septage Hauler Bond
| Bond Name | Registration Bond for Sewage Treatment Systems Septage Hauler |
| Bond Amount | $25,000 |
| Who Needs It? | Contractors who collect, transport, dispose of or land apply domestic septage from sewage treatment systems |
| Obligee | State of Ohio (filed with the Ohio Department of Health) |
| Bond Term | January 1 through December 31 |
| Bond Form | Form HEA 5440 |
| Governing Rule | Ohio Administrative Code Rule 3701-29-03 |
| Processing | Instant Issue available |
Septage haulers need a $25,000 bond that covers the collection, transportation, disposal and land application of domestic septage under Ohio law.
Qualified Ohio applicants can obtain this bond online through American Surety Bonds Agency, and the premium starts as low as $125 for one year.
How Much Does the Ohio Sewage Treatment System Bond Cost?
Through our Instant Issue platform, the premium starts as low as $100 for one year. Your premium may vary depending on the information provided during the application process. The portal displays your final bond information and premium due before you complete payment.
Your premium also depends on your registration category and bond amount, as shown in each category above. If you register in more than one category, you pay a separate premium for each bond.
When Does the Ohio Sewage Treatment System Bond Renew?
One of the most important dates for Ohio sewage treatment system contractors is December 31.
Ohio sewage treatment system registrations expire at the end of each calendar year. Each bond takes effect no sooner than January 1 and provides coverage through December 31 of the registration year, so you need a new bond for each year you register. In addition, the Ohio Department of Health updates its bond forms each year.
Although bonds are issued within minutes through our Instant Issue platform, American Surety Bonds Agency recommends obtaining your bond early enough to allow the Ohio Department of Health up to 30 days to process it before you renew your registration with your local health district.
How to Get Your Ohio Sewage Treatment System Bond
The Ohio Sewage Treatment System Bond is available through our secure Instant Issue platform:
- Start your application for your registration category: Multiple Systems Installer, Single or Small Flow System Installer, Service Provider or Septage Hauler.
- Enter Your Information. Complete the secure online application with your bond details.
- Pay Securely. Pay for your bond by credit card.
- Download Your Bond. Instantly download your bond, then email it with your Power of Attorney and Contractor Contact Information Form to SewageBonds@odh.ohio.gov, or mail the originals to the Ohio Department of Health. Send it one way only, not both.
Once the Ohio Department of Health processes your bond, local health districts can confirm it on the department’s online contractor bond lists.
Why Choose American Surety Bonds Agency?
American Surety Bonds Agency has been helping businesses meet their surety bond requirements for decades. Whether you’re applying for your first Ohio sewage treatment system registration or renewing an existing registration, our experienced team is here to help make the bonding process simple and efficient.
When you choose American Surety Bonds Agency, you’ll receive:
- Instant Issue available for qualified applicants
- Experienced surety bond professionals
- Competitive bond pricing
- Fast turnaround
- A secure online application process
- Convenient annual renewal reminders
Above all, we’re committed to helping businesses obtain the bonds they need with responsive service and experienced guidance every step of the way.
Frequently Asked Questions
| What is the Ohio Sewage Treatment System Bond amount? | Ohio sets the amount by registration category: $40,000 for installers of more than one system; $25,000 for service providers, septage haulers and installers of one small flow on-site system; $15,000 for service providers also registered as installers; and the system cost for installers of one household system. |
| How much does the bond cost? | The premium starts as low as $100 for one year through our Instant Issue platform. |
| When does the bond renew? | Each bond expires December 31, so you need a new bond for each registration year. |
| What does the bond cover? | The bond guarantees that the contractor will follow Ohio’s sewage treatment system laws and rules, and it allows a person harmed by a violation to make a claim. |
| Who requires the bond? | The Ohio Department of Health requires it, and the obligee named on the bond form is the State of Ohio. |
| Which bond form is required? | Ohio uses Form HEA 5438 (Service Provider), HEA 5439 (Multiple Systems Installer), HEA 5440 (Septage Hauler) and HEA 5448 (Single System Installer). |
| Can I obtain the bond online? | Yes. We offer this bond through a secure Instant Issue platform. |
Obtain Your Ohio Sewage Treatment System Bond Today
Don’t wait until your December 31 deadline.
American Surety Bonds Agency makes obtaining your Ohio Sewage Treatment System Bond fast, affordable, and hassle-free.
Apply today and keep your registration in good standing.
Obtain Your Ohio Sewage Treatment System Bond Online
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