01Your septic system is aging and the sewer line is getting closer
Braselton has grown fast, and the Town's sewer system has grown with it. Owners of older homes on septic sometimes find a sewer line has reached their road, and owners planning a new house want to know which option they are allowed to use and what each costs. The answer starts with rules, not prices: in some situations the Town and the state require a connection to sewer. Where a choice exists, the public fees on each side are very different in shape.
This page lays out the published Town of Braselton connection and monthly sewer charges next to the county septic permit fees. It does not include contractor prices for installing a sewer lateral, pumping or rebuilding a drain field, because no public office publishes those. Get written quotes for that work.
02When the rules decide for you
Georgia's on-site sewage rules say connection shall be made to a public or community sewage system if it is available within 200 feet of the property line or in a public right-of-way abutting the property, and that if an existing on-site system fails, immediate connection shall be made if sewer is available. A residential system under 2,000 gallons per day that is failing may be exempted if the repair meets the state manual's criteria and the county board of health finds enough area and usable soil.
The Town of Braselton's water and sewer ordinance goes further inside town limits. It says no private wastewater system is allowed in the town except by special agreement with the Mayor and Council, and that new construction within 200 feet of a Town gravity sewer line is prohibited from permitting and constructing a septic tank unless expressly approved under extenuating and special circumstances. Ask the Town and your county Environmental Health office which rule applies to your lot before comparing costs.
No private wastewater system shall be allowed in the Town of Braselton except by special agreement with the Mayor and Council.
Town of Braselton Code, Chapter 20: Water and Sewer Ordinance (PDF)
03The sewer side: one large fee, then a monthly bill
The Town's fee page says that, as of September 10, 2024, connections to its wastewater system are charged per dwelling unit for residential structures, and the same amount is the minimum charge even for structures needing less than the equivalent dwelling unit flow of 250 gallons per day. A new sewer account also takes a deposit. Note that an older posted copy of Chapter 20 shows a lower connection fee; the Town's current fee page is the figure to rely on, and the Town can confirm it.
After connection, sewer is billed monthly. Inside town, the residential sewer minimum covers the first 2,000 gallons, and each 1,000 gallons above that is billed at the tiered rates in the table. Outside-town customers pay a higher minimum. The private cost of running a building sewer from the house to the Town's line, and of abandoning the old tank, is extra: state rules say a discontinued tank must be pumped by a certified pumper and filled with sand, soil or rock, or removed.
| Item | Charge | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Sewer connection, per residential dwelling unit (as of September 10, 2024) | $7,500 | Town of Braselton Sewer Connection Fees |
| Sewer deposit, 3/4-inch, inside town / outside town | $70.00 / $80.00 | Town of Braselton Rates and Fees |
| Water deposit, 3/4-inch, inside town / outside town | $65.00 / $75.00 | Town of Braselton Rates and Fees |
| Water, 3/4-inch: meter fee + connection fee + admin fee | $360.00 + $1,430.00 + $35 = $1,825.00 | Town of Braselton Water Tap, Connection & Administrative Fees |
| Water tap fee, 3/4-inch (added only if the Town performs the tap) | $752.00 | Town of Braselton Water Tap, Connection & Administrative Fees |
04Monthly Town sewer rates
Sewer charges follow water use, so a household's bill depends on how many gallons pass through its meter. The minimum applies even in a low-use month. The rates below are the residential rates posted on the Town's Rates and Fees page; commercial rates are separate.
| Monthly usage | Inside town | Outside town | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| First 2,000 gallons (minimum) | $26.49 | $39.73 | Town of Braselton Rates and Fees |
| 2,001-5,000 gallons | $9.65 per 1,000 gallons | $9.65 per 1,000 gallons | Town of Braselton Rates and Fees |
| 5,001 gallons and above | $10.60 per 1,000 gallons | $10.60 per 1,000 gallons | Town of Braselton Rates and Fees |
05The septic side: permit fees and maintenance
A septic system has no monthly utility bill, but it has its own public costs: permit and inspection fees when a system is installed, repaired or modified, and the private cost of pumping and maintenance. The county fee schedules on this page show the permit side. The EPA says household tanks are typically pumped every three to five years and inspected at least every three years.
For a fair comparison, add up the sewer connection charge, the deposit and the private cost of the building sewer and tank abandonment, then compare them with the cost of a permitted septic repair or replacement plus pumping over the years. The Free Quote Request on this page can put you in touch with an independent provider for the private side of either option. The permit fee comparison has the full county schedules.
| Residential item | Fee | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Septic tank inspection (new system permit) | $375.00 | Jackson County EH fee schedule |
| Septic tank inspection, 5 or more bedrooms | $425.00 | Jackson County EH fee schedule |
| Septic tank inspection re-inspection | $200.00 | Jackson County EH fee schedule |
| Septic tank evaluation (existing system) | $150.00 | Jackson County EH fee schedule |
| Septic system location plan review | $50.00 | Jackson County EH fee schedule |
| Septic system site plan review | $75.00 | Jackson County EH fee schedule |
| Repair permit | $200.00 | Jackson County EH fee schedule |
| Addition/modification inspection | $150.00 | Jackson County EH fee schedule |
| Expedited service (residential) | $75.00 | Jackson County EH fee schedule |
| Pump truck inspection (septage removal) | $200.00 | Jackson County EH fee schedule |
06Gwinnett and Hall permit fees for comparison
If your lot is in the Gwinnett or Hall County part of Braselton, these are the published schedules that apply to a septic permit or repair. Barrow County's fees are being updated; call 770-307-3502.
| Item | Fee | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Site evaluation, permit and initial inspection, residential | $275 | GNR Gwinnett EH fee schedule |
| Same, from a complaint, residential | $400 | GNR Gwinnett EH fee schedule |
| Site evaluation, permit and initial inspection, commercial | $600 | GNR Gwinnett EH fee schedule |
| Reinspection | $175 | GNR Gwinnett EH fee schedule |
| Visual inspection (existing system evaluation) | $145 | GNR Gwinnett EH fee schedule |
| Site evaluation for addition, no septic modification | $150 | GNR Gwinnett EH fee schedule |
| Plan resubmission | $125 | GNR Gwinnett EH fee schedule |
| Pumper truck inspection | $155 | GNR Gwinnett EH fee schedule |
| Installation without a permit | 2 x permit fees | GNR Gwinnett EH fee schedule |
07Questions to ask the Town
Ask the Town of Braselton whether a gravity sewer line is within 200 feet of your property line, whether your address is inside town limits, and whether your property would need a sewer extension to reach the line. Ask which connection, deposit and meter fees would apply and whether any have changed since the fee page was posted. Ask whether you would need to apply for a place on the sewer waiting list or whether the single-family exemption applies. Write down the answers with the date and the name of the person you spoke with.
08Hall County schedule
Hall County prices new residential permits by bedroom count and lists a separate repair fee.
| Item | Fee | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Residential septic permit, 5 bedrooms or fewer | $350 | Hall County EH fees |
| Residential septic permit, 6 bedrooms or more | $450 | Hall County EH fees |
| Residential repair | $150 | Hall County EH fees |
| Residential septic tank addition/alteration | $250 | Hall County EH fees |
| Existing system evaluation, residential | $150 | Hall County EH fees |
| Septic re-inspection / site not ready | $150 | Hall County EH fees |
| Pump system or advanced treatment system (residential) | $600 | Hall County EH fees |
| Installing without a valid permit | $600 + fee | Hall County EH fees |
Sources for this article: Town of Braselton: Sewer Connection Fees; Town of Braselton: Utility Rates and Fees; Town of Braselton: Water Tap, Connection & Administrative Fees; Town of Braselton Code, Chapter 20: Water and Sewer Ordinance (PDF); Georgia DPH Manual for On-Site Sewage Management Systems, Section A: Rules and Regulations, Chapter 511-3-1 (PDF); Jackson County EH Fees, effective October 1, 2024 (Northeast Health District, PDF); GNR Public Health: Gwinnett County Environmental Health Fee Schedule (PDF); Hall County Board of Health: Environmental Health Fees, effective Jan. 1, 2024; U.S. EPA: How to Care for Your Septic System; Northeast Health District: Sewage/Septic Systems. Checked 2026-10-26.
Reader questions
How much does it cost to connect to Braselton sewer?
The Town's fee page lists $7,500 per residential dwelling unit as of September 10, 2024, plus a sewer deposit and the private cost of the building sewer.
Do I have to connect to sewer if my septic fails?
Under Georgia DPH rules, a failing system must connect immediately if public sewer is available, although a failing residential system may be exempted if a repair meets state criteria and the county board of health approves.
What is the monthly sewer minimum in Braselton?
For residential customers inside town, $26.49 for the first 2,000 gallons; outside town, $39.73.