Wet season testing is required for properties located in areas of the county with typically high water table conditions, and the highest water table is usually experienced during February, March and April. The wet season testing period is declared by the Prince George’s County Health Department based on perched conditions and monitoring well data. 

PERC testing is required for any property that is not going to be served by public sewer and before any septic system or on-site sewage disposal system can be installed.

If you plan to build on undeveloped property in Prince George’s County and your property is unable to be served by a public sewer, you must apply to the Prince George’s County Health Department to conduct PERC testing.

Application processing is handled on a first-come, first-served basis. In order for a percolation test to be conducted, an application and the associated $267.75 per lot fee (this includes the $255.00 application fee plus a $12.75 technology fee) must be submitted to the Department of Permitting, Inspections and Enforcement located at 9400 Peppercorn Place, Largo, MD, 20774 between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. 

If you have previously applied for a percolation test, reapplication is not needed unless additional lots are being tested that were not included in the previous application.  Percolation testing must be conducted in the presence of a Prince George’s County Health Department representative. 

Please note that obtaining a satisfactory percolation test is not the only requirement in the process of developing a piece of land. Other county zoning and building requirements must be met as well.

To obtain an application to perform PERC testing, please use the following link https://www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/DocumentCenter/View/4866/Percolation-Test-Application-PDF?bidId=.  If you have questions or to schedule a percolation test, please contact the Prince George’s County Health Department, Division of Environmental Health/Disease Control at 301-883-7681, weekdays between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.

For more information about PERC testing, visit the Health Department’s PERC webpage at https://www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/2141/18821/Percolation-Tests.

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