DeKalb County, GA Plumbing Fixture Requirement

On February 26, 2008 Dekalb County approved the Inefficient Plumbing Fixtures Replacement Plan. Any home built prior to 1993 must have low flow toilets and plumbing fixtures installed before the homeowner can obtain water from the county.

Effective June 1, 2008, sellers will be required to disclose the Dekalb County Ordinance when selling their homes. Listing agents in Dekalb should add a notice of this ordinance to the seller’s disclosure and/or sales contract. Before the new homeowner can obtain water service, they must provide written proof from a home inspector, licensed plumber, or a Department of Watershed Inspector. This certificate will be required with their application for water service.

Single family homes and condos must meet the following:
1. Toilets that use max 1.6 gallons per flush
2. Shower heads max of 2.5 gallons per minute
3. Lavatory faucets max of 2 gallons per minute
4. Kitchen faucets output of max of 2.2 gallons per minute

Based on average home sales statistics, Dekalb County expects to save 360,000 gallons of water per day by enacting this ordinance and predicts it will take more than 33 years to replace all of the older water guzzling toilets and fixtures.

There are some exemptions to this ordinance which include the following:
1. Foreclosure sales
2. Family sales (spouse to spouse or parents to children)
3. Homes that will be demolished after the sale
4. Circumstances where the cost of replacement would exceed $1,000.00 per toilet

DeKalb County has also enacted a rebate program.There are 2 rebates available: $100.00 rebate for the replacement with High Efficiency toilets (HET’s) that use 1.28 gallons or less per flush and $50.00 for “low-flow” (1.6 gallons per flush). You have 60 days from the date of purchase to apply for the rebate. Three rebates maximum per household.

Here is the list of qualifying toilets:
http://www.epa.gov/watersense/pp/find_het.htm

For more details and to download the application, go to:
http://www.dekalbwatershed.com/PDF/ToiletRebateProgramGuidelines.pdf

Sellers will have to disclose the Ordinance as part of the disclosure and/or sales contract. The Georgia Association of Realtors has prepared such a Disclose.

Please note that the Ordinance applies to houses and condos in unincorporated DeKalb County. The Georgia Association of Realtors advises: “If the property is located within a city in DeKalb County, such as Decatur, Chamblee or Lithonia, the ordinance does not apply. If Dunwoody becomes a city later on this year, the ordinance will not apply. However, until that occurs, Dunwoody will remain in unincorporated DeKalb County and as such be subject to the ordinance.”

So, if you are a Seller, you have a huge advantage if you install water saving toilets PLUS you will be able to take advantage of the Rebate. The budget is limited, so the Rebates are only available for a limited time! PLUS, more importantly: Since a Buyer won’t be able to receive Water service on the day of closing until he can provide proof that all fixtures are compliant, he/she may even discount the offer or pass on your home after all!

For more information:
http://dekalbwatershed.com/PDF/plumbingFixturesReplacement.pdf