Title 5: The Septic Inspection That Can Stop Your Closing Cold

Massachusetts requires a Title 5 septic inspection within 2 years before most title transfers (3 with annual pumping). Failures are common, expensive, and best discovered before listing rather than two weeks before closing.

Anyone buying or selling a Massachusetts home that is not connected to municipal sewer.

• •Inspection valid 2 years before transfer, 3 if pumped annually
• •Family transfers between spouses, parent/child, siblings are exempt
• •Refinancing is not a transfer and does not trigger Title 5
• •Inspector files results with the Board of Health within 30 days
• •Towns can impose stricter rules than the state minimum