State of Iowa, IDNR Time of Transfer Inspection

Iowa's Time of Transfer septic system inspection law (SF261) was passed by the Iowa legislature in April of 2008 and took effect July 1, 2009. The new law requires that every home/building served by a septic system have that septic system inspected prior to the sale or deed transfer for the home/building. The purpose of the law is to eliminate sub-standard or polluting septic systems.   For information concerning Time of Transfer, go to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources web site (click here).

UPDATE: Time of Transfer - The IA Dept. of Natural Resources has implemented an enforcement and compliance protocol in recognition of the extraordinary circumstances facing the state from COVID-19.  All questions should be directed to Cory Frank at 515-725-8404 or emailed to cory.frank@dnr.iowa.gov.   (IOWWA only tracks Time of Transfer continuing education status information for events sponsored by IOWWA.)   Consistent with Governor Reynold's public health proclamation dated March 17, 2020, the Department is attempting to provide some regulatory relief and mitigate the economic effects of business closings and social distancing standards necessary to protect the public's health. To that end, the Department is issuing this protocol in an attempt to balance the need to protect and maintain Iowa's natural resources against the need to protect people from infection.   As a direct result of this action, current Certified Time of Transfer Inspectors who do not meet the continuing education credit requirements by March 31 will be allowed to renew their inspector license.  Any continuing education credits obtained after April 1, 2020 will go towards meeting the continuing education credit requirements for the upcoming 2020-2022 certification period.  Your certification renewal information will be delivered to the address we currently have listed for you in our data system. We ask that you use the Operator Certification web site to review your certification mailing address and submit any updates as soon as possible to ensure you receive your renewal documents.  The Operator Certification Web Database is located at http://programs.iowadnr.gov/opcertweb/ 
 https://www.iowadnr.gov/environmental-protection/water-quality/private-septic-systems/time-of-transfer

IDNR Time of Transfer License Renewal for July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2022The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (Department) has implemented an enforcement and compliance protocol in recognition of the extraordinary circumstances facing the state from COVID-19. Consistent with Governor Reynold's public health proclamation dated March 17, 2020, the Department is attempting to provide some regulatory relief and mitigate the economic effects of business closings and social distancing standards necessary to protect the public's health. To that end, the Department is issuing this protocol in an attempt to balance the need to protect and maintain Iowa's natural resources against the need to protect people from infection. 

As a direct result of this action, current Certified Time of Transfer Inspectors who do not meet the continuing education credit requirements by March 31 will be allowed to renew their inspector license.  Any continuing education credits obtained after April 1, 2020 will go towards meeting the continuing education credit requirements for the upcoming 2020-2022 certification period.  Your certification renewal information will be delivered to the address we currently have listed for you in our data system. We ask that you use the Operator Certification web site to review your certification mailing address and submit any updates as soon as possible to ensure you receive your renewal documents.

The Operator Certification Web Database is located at http://programs.iowadnr.gov/opcertweb/.  
Any additional questions can be directed to Cory Frank at 515-725-8404 or emailed to cory.frank@dnr.iowa.gov

CEU requirements - Continuing education units (CEUs) must be earned during each two-year period from April 1 of the even-numbered year until March 30 of the next even-numbered year.   A certified inspector must earn 1.2 CEUs or 12.0 contact hours during each two-year period. Newly certified time of transfer inspectors (previously uncertified) who become certified after April 1 of a two-year period will not be required to earn CEUs until the next two-year period.

1. You will receive a renewal form from IDNR in the mail the last week of April 2020.  
2. You will need to sign and return the form with the $300 Renewal Fee.
3. Upon receipt of the Renewal Form and fee, IDNR will send you a label for your certificate extending its expiration date to June 30, 2022.
4. 1.2 CEUs or 12.0 Contact hours of IDNR approved continuing education is required for the 2022 renewal.
5. CEU or Contact Hours for the 2022 renewal period must be earned between April 1, 2020 and March 31, 2022.

Please notify the IDNR of any address changes at 515-725-0463 or email elizabeth.feilmeier@dnr.iowa.gov

To look up your continuing education status on the Iowa DNR web site, go to http://programs.iowadnr.gov/opcertweb/.  The Iowa Department of Natural Resources Continuing Education Reporting Form can be found under "Documents & Files" on this page (download and print).     Note: IOWWA provides the IDNR with continuing education information for all IOWWA sponsored events.