How to Permit a Composting Toilet in Arizona (What I’ve Learned)
This page documents what I learned while permitting a composting toilet in Arizona using an approved system. This is based on my personal experience and publicly available information, and it’s meant to help you understand the process before you walk into your local county health department.
Permitting rules can vary by county, and requirements can change over time. Always confirm current requirements with your local authority before building or submitting paperwork.
Important Reference (State Documentation)
UPDATE (7/14/22): Arizona composting toilet packet from the state
The information below was originally sourced from watershedmg.org. If any of this feels complicated, don’t worry — your local county health department can provide the correct paperwork and walk you through the process.
In short: Arizona offers a free permit for approved composting toilet systems. If you use scrap or low-cost materials, it’s possible to build and permit a compliant system for very little money.
Related Videos
Video: How I built this composting toilet system using scrap materials
Video: How the system actually works
Basic Materials (Single-Person System)
- Two 55-gallon plastic barrels
- Two 2-inch 90-degree PVC elbows
- One 3-inch PVC T
- One sheet of OSB large enough to cover the barrel lid
- Three 3-inch hose clamps
- A toilet lid (or equivalent)
- One 1-inch x 1/4-inch gasket
- Three springs to hold OSB to barrel
- 16-gauge wire mesh (to keep bugs out)
The unit does not need to be painted unless it will be in direct sunlight.
You are not required to build a shed to enclose the toilet. If you do build one, the shed does not need to be inspected.
What Inspectors Typically Look For
- Toilet lid sealed with a gasket or heavy lid to prevent insects
- OSB sealed to the barrel with a gasket
- Vent openings covered with mesh
- Toilet height between 12 and 16 inches above ground
Permitting Notes & Disclaimers
This document is meant to help you navigate the permitting process for composting toilets. It is not a comprehensive guide and does not guarantee permitting approval.
This system falls under an Alternative Onsite Wastewater Treatment Facility as a Type 4 General Aquifer Protection Permit under Arizona Administrative Code (AAC) R18-9-A301.
Additional State & County References
1. Arizona approved proprietary composting toilet products:
http://static.azdeq.gov/pub/list_prop_products.pdf
2. Counties that handle permits locally include: Apache, Cochise, Coconino, Gila, Greenlee, La Paz, Maricopa, Mohave, Navajo, Pima, Pinal, Yavapai, and Yuma.
Application submission reference
If you live outside those counties, applications are submitted to ADEQ’s Southern Regional Office in Tucson.
New Construction vs Existing Homes
If this system is part of new construction, additional requirements may apply — especially if sewer connection waivers are involved. If you already have septic or sewer service, you may still need a waiver depending on your jurisdiction.
Always confirm requirements with your county before proceeding.
If you’re new to off-grid planning, you may also want to start here:
Off-Grid Living: Start Here
8 comments
What about the pee does it all go into the same composting toilet?
The free permit is for the pale privy compost system I’m showing in this video, not for a standard septic system. I provided all the documentation for you to look at. Contact your county with specific questions regarding this system.
You said Arizona offers a free permit? How do I find that? It looks like $550 to me. Thanks.