MA Title 5 Report Submission to Board of Health: Step-by-Step Guide

By The Complos Team. Last reviewed 2026-05-14.

TL;DR. How to submit a Title 5 inspection report to your Massachusetts Board of Health. Required forms, deadlines, submission methods, and what happens after submission.

Your inspector has finished the Title 5 inspection and handed you the report. It says "needs inspection" or "structural deficiency." Now what?

You have a deadline to respond to your Board of Health. Miss it, and the BOH issues an enforcement order. This guide walks you through the submission process, how to read the BOH's requirements, and what happens after you submit.

Part of the MA Board of Health Title 5 Submission guide.

Understanding the Title 5 Deficiency Categories

Your inspector's report will use one of four verdicts:

1. No Deficiency

System is compliant. No action required. You're done.

2. Sanitary Deficiency

Non-structural problem. Examples: loose baffle, missing deflector, clogged distribution field, biomat layer.

• What you do: Hire a contractor to remediate (repair baffle, clear field, install deflector)
• Remediation cost: $1,500–$6,000
• Timeline: 2–4 weeks
• Next step: Request reinspection; pay for it ($400–$600)

3. Structural Deficiency

Tank or field is compromised but not an imminent health threat. Examples: tank thinning, inadequate field depth, improper well separation.

• What you do: Engineer a remedy (new tank, new field, pump system, or rework)
• Cost: $8,000–$20,000+ (often requires replacement)
• Timeline: 6–12 weeks (design, permit, construction)
• Next step: Submit engineering design to BOH for approval; then construct; then reinspect

4. Failure

System is non-functional or poses imminent health hazard. Example: septic effluent surfacing in yard, system backing up into house.

• What you do: Cease using the system immediately (if possible); engineer full replacement
• Cost: $12,000–$40,000
• Timeline: 8–16 weeks
• Next step: Contact BOH immediately; they may issue an emergency order requiring isolation of the system

BOH Notification: What You'll Receive

After the inspector files the report, the Board of Health automatically sends you a notice of deficiency (or notice of failure, if that applies). This notice includes:

• Deficiency description (what the inspector found)
• Regulatory citation (which section of 310 CMR 15.000 you're violating)
• Remediation deadline (usually 30–60 days to submit a plan; varies by town)
• Required response format (written plan, engineering design, contractor quote, etc.)
• BOH contact (inspector, email, phone number for questions)

Important: This is not optional. Ignoring it results in an enforcement order (formal legal demand) and potential fines ($100–$300/day in some towns).

Step-by-Step Submission Process

Step 1: Read the BOH Notice Carefully (Day 1)

Underline:

• The deficiency category (sanitary vs. structural)
• The deadline (e.g., "submit remediation plan by June 15")
• The submission method (email, online portal, in-person at town hall)
• The required documents (design, contractor quote, proof of payment, etc.)

Call the BOH if anything is unclear. Most BOH inspectors are helpful and will explain what they need.

Step 2: Get a Contractor Quote (Days 2–7)

For a sanitary deficiency, get 2–3 quotes for the repair work:

• Tank baffle repair/replacement: $600–$1,200
• Field jetting/clearing: $2,000–$5,000
• Deflector installation: $400–$800

For a structural deficiency, get a quote + engineering design from a licensed septic engineer. Cost: $1,000–$2,500 for design + quote.

Step 3: Submit Your Remediation Plan (Before Deadline)

The BOH typically asks for:

For sanitary deficiency:

• Written description of the repair (1 paragraph is fine)
• Contractor quote (name, phone, estimated cost, timeline)
• Your timeline for starting work (e.g., "within 2 weeks of permit approval")
• Example email:

To: [email protected]
Subject: Title 5 Deficiency Remediation Plan - [Your Address]

Dear Board of Health,

I am responding to the deficiency notice dated [date] for my property at 
[address]. 

The inspector found a loose baffle in the septic tank. I am hiring [Contractor 
Name] to repair the baffle and replace the deflector. Attached is their quote 
for $850. I plan to have the work completed and reinspected by [date, 4 weeks 
from now].

I will contact you once the contractor has completed the work to schedule the 
reinspection.

Thank you,
[Your Name]
[Phone Number]

For structural deficiency:

• Engineer-designed remediation plan (includes site plan, new system layout, soil testing results)
• Contractor quote
• Timeline (usually 8–12 weeks)
• Proof that you've submitted a permit application to the town building department

Step 4: BOH Review & Approval (Usually 2–4 Weeks)

The BOH reviews your plan. They may:

• Approve it: Email/call saying "plan approved, proceed with work"
• Request modifications: "We need more detail on the tank replacement specs" or "We need a Professional Engineer's stamp on the design"
• Deny it: "This approach doesn't meet 310 CMR 15.000; submit revised plan" (rare, but happens for weak remediation plans)

If you hear nothing in 4 weeks, call the BOH. Some towns are slow; a phone call speeds things up.

Step 5: Execute the Remediation (Timeline Varies)

Sanitary deficiency remediation (2–4 weeks):

• Week 1: Contractor pumps tank, performs repair
• Week 2: Contractor clears field (if needed), installs new deflector
• Week 3: System is ready for reinspection

Structural deficiency remediation (6–12 weeks):

• Week 1–2: Obtain building permit from town
• Week 3–6: Contractor mobilizes, excavates, installs new tank/field
• Week 7: Backfill, site restoration
• Week 8: System is ready for reinspection

Step 6: Schedule Reinspection (After Remediation Complete)

Once the contractor says the work is done:

1. Call the BOH to schedule reinspection (usually 1–2 weeks out)
2. You pay for the reinspection ($400–$600; same inspector, same fee as original)
3. Inspector revisits the site (1–2 hours) and certifies that the deficiency is resolved

Step 7: BOH Sign-Off (1–2 Weeks After Reinspection)

The inspector files a reinspection report. If the system now passes:

• BOH sends you a letter of compliance or sign-off certificate
• The deficiency is closed
• Your property is now compliant (though reinspection is good for only 5 years—you'll need another Title 5 inspection in 5 years if you sell)

If the reinspection still finds issues:

• BOH issues another notice with a new remediation deadline
• You cycle through the process again (rare, but happens if contractor's work is inadequate)

Submission Methods by Town

Town	Submission Method	Email Address	Notes
Boston	Online portal	N/A	Submit via city.boston.gov/boards-health
Cambridge	Email	[email protected]	Include "Title 5" in subject line
Worcester	In-person or mail	worcesterma.gov/health	Call first; some docs require original signatures
Springfield	Email	[email protected]	Receipt confirmation required
Plymouth	Mail or email	[email protected]	Prefers email; include property tax ID

General rule: Most towns accept email or online portal submission. Call your BOH and ask, "How do you prefer Title 5 remediation plan submissions?"

Common Mistakes in BOH Submissions

1. Missing the deadline Once the deadline passes, the BOH can issue an enforcement order without negotiation. Don't wait—submit even a partial plan before the deadline, then follow up with more detail.

2. Submitting a vague plan "I will fix the system" is not a plan. Include contractor name, estimated cost, timeline, and system description (what you're replacing/repairing and why).

3. Hiring a non-licensed contractor The BOH may reject the plan if your contractor isn't licensed or doesn't have liability insurance. Vet the contractor upfront.

4. Not following the engineer's design If you submit an engineer-designed plan, don't let the contractor modify it in the field without BOH approval. Changes void the design.

5. Assuming the BOH will contact you if there's a problem Many towns don't follow up proactively. If you don't hear back in 4 weeks, call and confirm receipt.

6. Starting work before BOH approval If you remediate without BOH sign-off, they may reject it ("This doesn't meet our standards"). Wait for approval before spending money.

Timeline Template (Sanitary Deficiency)

Stage	Timeline	Owner	Cost
Receive BOH notice	Day 1	BOH	$0
Get contractor quotes	Days 2–7	You	$0
Submit plan to BOH	Day 7 (before deadline)	You	$0
BOH reviews & approves	Days 8–21	BOH	$0
Contractor performs repair	Days 22–28	Contractor	$1,500–$6,000
Schedule reinspection	Day 29	You	$0
Reinspection	Days 30–35	Inspector	$400–$600
BOH sign-off	Days 36–42	BOH	$0
Total: ~6 weeks			$1,900–$6,600

Key Takeaway

A BOH submission is straightforward if you understand the deadline and format. Most deficiencies take 4–8 weeks to resolve (sanitary) or 8–16 weeks (structural). The hardest part is usually getting a contractor scheduled, not the BOH paperwork.

Not sure which BOH you submit to? Use our BOH submission lookup to find your town's requirements →

Need to understand your deficiency first? Check the Title 5 compliance tool to decode your inspection findings →

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Questions about BOH submission? Join our list for town-specific guidance →

Frequently asked questions

What's the short answer to "MA Title 5 Report Submission to Board of Health: Step-by-Step Guide"?

How to submit a Title 5 inspection report to your Massachusetts Board of Health. Required forms, deadlines, submission methods, and what happens after submission.

Who does this apply to?

NEIWPCC-certified Title 5 system inspectors in Massachusetts, FDEP-licensed septic contractors in Florida, SCDHS-permitted designers in Suffolk County NY, and the property owners these professionals serve.

Where can I read the underlying regulation?

Every Complos guide links to the source statute or rule in the body. MA Title 5: 310 CMR 15.000. FL HB 1379 / HB 1417. NY: Suffolk County Sanitary Code Article 19. Always confirm with mass.gov / flsenate.gov / suffolkcountyny.gov before acting.

How does Complos help with this?

Complos generates the regulator's exact PDF, validates the inspection against the local overlay, and tracks per-town submission methods so you don't ship the report into a black hole. Start a 14-day trial at complos.ai/signup.