For DeKalb Sellers

DeKalb Homeowners - Low Flow LAW

One item that is hitting every home owner selling their property in Dekalb County is low flow plumbing. A new law states that any house built before 1993 and sold will have to have low-flow toilets that consume 1.6 gallons of water or less per flush in order to have public water to be turned on in the new owner’s name.

Low-flow toilets became mandatory in new construction around 1993, so homes that were built after 1993 are not affected by this new ordinance. The county still has as many as 165,000 houses built before 1993, but it is unclear how many have been upgraded with toilets that use less water. The low-flow requirement is one thing that Dekalb County is using to cope with the drought in Georgia. http://www.dekalbwatershed.com/index.html

Just like you may not exactly look forward to seeing your physician for your annual exam, it is necessary in order to stay healthy. Same with your house and its exam. You may not exactly like to hear that the electrical outlets are not up to code or that the motor in the attic fan is broken. Or that you are now going to be required to buy low flow toilets. In the end, a few repairs and or replacements of said items will help to get your home to settlement.

Effective June 1, 2008 DeKalb County is enforcing a new ordinance affecting residential properties in unincorporated areas of the County that were constructed prior to January 1, 1993. Below is a list of frequently asked questions concerning this Ordinance. Please read this list of questions and let our office know if our inspector will need to complete a Certificate of Compliance for you in order for you to have your water connected after the purchase of your new home.

What is the Certificate of Compliance?
This certificate must be signed by a licensed plumber, home inspector, or DeKalb County inspector in order to have the water connected after the purchase of the home. Our inspectors have copies of this certificate and can sign it at the time of the inspection if the house complies with the regulations of the Ordinance.
· What are the requirements of the Ordinance?
All plumbing fixtures in the home must be water-conserving or considered “low-flow”. Fixtures installed after January 1, 1993 should comply with the requirement.
· Can your inspector tell if the fixtures comply?
Yes, our inspector can tell if the house complies with the Ordinance through various means, including a water test when necessary.

Are any homes exempt from the Compliance?

Yes, there are several exceptions to the Ordinance.
o Foreclosures
o Homes built after January 1, 1993
o Homes within the city limits of : Doraville, Chamblee, Decatur, City of Atlanta (within DeKalb Co), Avondale Estates, Clarkston, Pine Lake, Stone Mountain, and Lithonia
· What do I need to do if the home is not exempt and I must have the Certificate of Compliance?
Please inform our office staff prior to the inspection if our inspector needs to check for the home’s compliance. If all plumbing fixtures meet the regulations, then our inspector will provide and sign the certificate at the time of the inspection. There is currently not a fee for this additional service at the time of the inspection.
· What if the home is not compliant at the time of the inspection?
If the home does not meet the standards of the Ordinance at the time of the inspection, our inspector will not be able to sign the Certificate of Compliance. Once the plumbing fixtures are replaced, you have three options of how to get the certificate signed:
o Have a licensed plumber sign the certificate
o Call an inspector with DeKalb County’s Department of Watershed Management to come out and inspect the fixtures. This is a free inspection, but they currently have a 7 day back-up. Their number is 770.621.7200.
o Have our company come back and inspect (and test when necessary) the new fixtures. We cannot sign the Certificate by the receipts alone for liability purposes – we must do the reinspection. The fee will be $175 and can generally be taken care of within 24 to 48 hours.