15A NCAC 18E .0911      PRIVIES

(a)  A privy shall be approved when it consists of a pit, floor slab, and seat assembly housed in a building that affords privacy and protection from the weather and meets the following criteria:

(1)           the pit shall consist of an excavation with a minimum bottom surface area of three and one half feet square;

(2)           the maximum depth of the pit shall not exceed 36 inches;

(3)           the pit bottom shall not be located closer than 12 inches to a LC;

(4)           the pit shall be curbed to prevent caving. In sandy or loose soil, the curb shall extend the full depth of the pit. In clay soils, partial curbing may be acceptable if soils have sufficient cohesion to not collapse;

(5)           the floor shall be constructed of concrete, wood, or other approved materials. The following criteria shall be met, as applicable:

(A)          for wood construction, rot resistant joists are used covered with tight tongue‑and‑groove rot resistant flooring;

(B)          wood floors shall be anchored to the sills. The minimum sill size shall be four-inch by four-inch; and

(C)          when other materials are used the material shall be shown to provide strength, durability and prevent entrance of flies and mosquitoes to the privy pit;

(6)           the pit shall be vented through screened PVC Schedule 40 pipe or other pipe approved in accordance with Rule .0703 of this Subchapter, six inches in diameter, and extending above the roofline. The vent pipe shall be:

(A)          located on a south side wall of the building;

(B)          covered to prevent rainfall from entering, but still allow gases to escape;

(C)          straight without any bends in the pipe; and

(D)          black colored pipe; and

(7)           privies shall not be used for the disposal of water‑carried sewage.

(b)  Any person owning or controlling the property upon which a privy is located shall be responsible for the following requirements:

(1)           when the pit becomes filled to within 18 inches of the top of the ground, the privy building shall be moved to a new pit and the old pit covered with soil; and

(2)           if the pit caves in, a new pit shall be provided.

(c)  The person owning or controlling the system shall be responsible for the following requirements:

(1)           the privy and grounds adjacent shall be kept free of debris;

(2)           a hinged seat cover and hinged door shall be provided and kept closed when the privy is not in use;

(3)           flies shall be excluded from the pit by the privy building door fitting in the frame and no unscreened openings in the building;

(4)           garbage and trash shall be kept out of the pit; and

(5)           the privy building shall not be used for storage.

(d)  When a new pit is required, a CA and OP shall be obtained.

History Note:        Authority G.S. 130A-335(e) and (f);

Eff. January 1, 2024.