Septic tank size by state / South Atlantic
West Virginia septic tank size
In West Virginia the minimum septic tank for a three-bedroom house is 1,000 gallons, and four bedrooms need the same 1,000 gallons. The figure comes from W. Va. Code R. § 64-47-6.4.a (64CSR47, Sewage Treatment and Collection System Design Standards / Individual Sewage Systems). That matches the 1,000-gallon median of the 47 states listed here.
What the West Virginia rule says
The rule is W. Va. Code R. § 64-47-6.4.a (64CSR47, Sewage Treatment and Collection System Design Standards / Individual Sewage Systems), administered by West Virginia Department of Health, Bureau for Public Health (Office of Environmental Health Services); local health departments. In its own words:
6.4.a.1. For four or fewer bedrooms, the minimum tank capacity shall be 1,000 gallons ... 6.4.a.2. For each additional bedroom, the minimum tank capacity shall be 250 gallons per bedroom.
Source: W. Va. Code R. § 64-47-6.4.a (64CSR47, Sewage Treatment and Collection System Design Standards / Individual Sewage Systems), read 2026-10-20.
- Above four bedrooms the minimum rises 250 gallons per bedroom.
- Garbage disposals are not allowed on grey-water systems.
West Virginia minimum tank size by bedrooms
| Bedrooms | Minimum tank | Versus the median state |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,000 gal | same |
| 2 | 1,000 gal | — |
| 3 | 1,000 gal | same |
| 4 | 1,000 gal | −200 |
| 5 | 1,250 gal | −250 |
| 6 | 1,500 gal | — |
The first step up comes at 5 bedrooms, from 1,000 to 1,250 gallons, and a six-bedroom house needs 1,500 gallons. Beyond the table the rule adds 250 gallons for each extra bedroom. These are minimums: the permit can call for more, and a bigger tank needs pumping less often.
How West Virginia compares with nearby states
Delaware requires 1,000 gallons for three bedrooms; Florida requires 900 gallons for three bedrooms; Georgia requires 1,000 gallons for three bedrooms; Maryland requires 1,000 gallons for three bedrooms; North Carolina requires 1,000 gallons for three bedrooms; South Carolina requires 1,000 gallons for three bedrooms; Virginia requires 900 gallons for three bedrooms. 37 of the 47 states listed here share West Virginia's three-bedroom figure.
Before you size a tank in West Virginia
- Bedrooms, not people, set the size in most rules. Rooms that could be used as bedrooms are usually counted, so check how your permitting office counts a den or a finished basement.
- Garbage disposals, grinder or ejector pumps and large tubs change the answer in many states; the points above list West Virginia's adjustments.
- The tank is only half the system. The drainfield is sized separately from soil tests, and it is usually the bigger cost.
- A private well on the same lot has its own setbacks from the tank and field; the well pump and pressure tank calculators size the water side.
Figures are the state's minimum as written on 2026-10-20. Local health departments can require more; the permit issued for your property governs. See the methodology for how each state was read.