Short answer: Suffolk County regulates cesspools and septic systems through Articles 6 and 19 of its Sanitary Code: no cesspool-for-cesspool replacement since July 2019, I/A systems for new construction since July 2021, and pump-out reporting by licensed operators. Most of the county outside the western sewer districts relies on on-site systems, and grants of up to $20,000 (county) and $25,000 (state) pay for I/A upgrades.
Last updated: November 2026.
How a request works
ClickCesspool is a dispatch platform, not a pumping company. You submit your address and what's going on; a team member matches the request to an independent operator holding a Suffolk County Liquid Waste License who serves that address; the operator contacts you to confirm the appointment and price. We confirm coverage per request rather than claiming operators in every hamlet.
The ten towns
Land-area shares inside active and proposed county sewer districts, computed 2026-11-07 from the county GIS layer; I/A installs as reported by SCDHS for October 2024.
| Town | Active sewer | Proposed sewer | Hamlets with ~0% active | I/A installs | Town rebate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Town of Babylon | 59% | 20% | 3 of 14 | 57 | No |
| Town of Brookhaven | 6% | 4% | 28 of 46 | 730 | No |
| Town of East Hampton | 0% | 1% | 9 of 9 | 1,465 | Yes |
| Town of Huntington | 4% | 1% | 10 of 18 | 197 | No |
| Town of Islip | 30% | 16% | 13 of 24 | 240 | No |
| Town of Riverhead | 6% | 0% | 5 of 7 | 90 | No |
| Town of Shelter Island | 0% | 0% | 3 of 3 | 250 | Yes |
| Town of Smithtown | 6% | 1% | 4 of 9 | 126 | No |
| Town of Southampton | 2% | under 1% | 19 of 22 | 1,881 | Yes |
| Town of Southold | 0% | 0% | 13 of 13 | 308 | No |
The county rules in brief
- Replacement: since July 1, 2019, at least a septic tank ahead of a leaching structure, approved by SCDHS; no new cesspools.
- New construction: I/A system required for new or expanded single-family homes and major reconstruction filed since July 1, 2021. Details: is an I/A system required?
- Failed system: defined by symptoms, including pumping four or more times a year because of groundwater, collapse or clogging.
- I/A ownership: registration, an annual maintenance contract, and 60-day transfer notices (Article 19).
- Licensing: Liquid Waste License (Chapter 563, Article VII) for replacements, retrofits and new systems.
Full detail: Suffolk County cesspool and septic regulations.
Hamlet and village pages
Aquebogue · Bay Shore · Bayport · Belle Terre · Bellport · Bohemia · Brentwood · Bridgehampton · Calverton · Center Moriches · Centereach · Centerport · Central Islip · Cold Spring Harbor · Commack · Coram · Cutchogue · Deer Park · Dix Hills · East Hampton · East Northport · East Setauket · Farmingville · Greenport · Hampton Bays · Hauppauge · Holbrook · Holtsville · Huntington · Huntington Station · Islandia · Islip · Kings Park · Lake Grove · Lake Ronkonkoma · Lindenhurst · Lloyd Harbor · Manorville · Mastic · Mastic Beach · Medford · Melville · Middle Island · Miller Place · Montauk · Mount Sinai · Nesconset · Northport · Oakdale · Ocean Beach · Patchogue · Port Jefferson · Port Jefferson Station · Ridge · Riverhead · Rocky Point · Ronkonkoma · Sag Harbor · Sayville · Selden · Shelter Island · Shirley · Smithtown · Sound Beach · Southampton · Southold · St. James · Stony Brook · Wading River · West Islip · Westhampton · Westhampton Beach · Yaphank
Frequently asked questions
Who licenses cesspool companies in Suffolk County?
Replacements, retrofits and new systems can only be done by a contractor with an active Liquid Waste License under Suffolk County Code Chapter 563, Article VII, issued through the Department of Labor, Licensing and Consumer Affairs. I/A maintenance also requires the I/A service-provider endorsement.
Does Suffolk County require cesspool pumping reports?
Yes. Since July 1, 2018 licensed operators must report every pump-out of a cesspool, septic tank, I/A system, grease trap or leaching structure to the Department of Health Services.
How does a ClickCesspool request work in Suffolk?
You submit the address and the problem. We match it to an independent operator with the Suffolk license who serves that address, and the operator contacts you to confirm the time and price. ClickCesspool doesn't do the work itself.
Sources
Each source was re-read on November 7, 2026. Program amounts and rules change; the agency page is the authority.
- Suffolk County Sanitary Code, Article 6 (amended 12/1/2020)
- Suffolk County Sanitary Code, Article 19 (I/A OWTS management)
- Suffolk County DHS: Changes to wastewater practices effective July 1, 2019
- Suffolk County DHS presentation, 11/19/2024 (hosted by the Town of Shelter Island)
- Suffolk County GIS Viewer map service (hamlets, villages, sewer districts, groundwater zones, flood zones, tax parcels)
- Suffolk County: Septic Improvement Program information
Have a cesspool or septic question on Long Island?
Submit a request and we match it to an independent, licensed Suffolk or Nassau County operator who serves your address. The operator contacts you to confirm the work and the price.
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