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Board of Health
Meetings
- 4 pm on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month
Agendas & Minutes
Agendas are available before the meetings. Minutes are available following approval.
View Most Recent Agendas and Minutes
Members
- Jeff Pratt, Chairman
- Malcolm Boyd, Vice Chairman
- George Santos, Clerk
Overview
Mission Statement
Under Massachusetts General Laws, state and local regulations, and community direction, Boards of Health are held responsible for disease prevention and control, health and environmental protection, and promoting a healthy community. Boards of Health serve as the local arm of both the Mass. Department of Public Health and the Mass. Department of Environmental Protection. To fulfill their duties, they develop, implement and enforce health policies, oversee inspections to maintain minimum standards for sanitation in housing and food service and assure that the basic health needs of their community are being met.
- When am I required to have my septic system inspected?
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The Board of Health may require a Title 5 septic inspection if your system has been pumped more than 4 times in a year, has overflowed, shows signs of failure, or you plan renovations that will increase wastewater flow. An inspection is also required when selling or transferring a property with a septic system and/or a Title 5 report that are/is more than 2 years old. A state-certified inspector must do the inspection and send the results to our office within 30 days. Once we accept the report, it is valid for two years.
- What is the process for pumping out a septic system and how many times can I do so in a year?
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The first step is to contact your pumper to schedule the pumpout. The pumper will contact the Board of Health office to obtain a permit.Tisbury does not currently have treatment or septage disposal facilities available, so the effluent must be trucked off-island.According to state code, you may pump your septic system up to 4 times per year. If you exceed the maximum in 12 months, you will be required to have the system inspected by a state-certified Title 5 inspector.
- Does the Board of Health limit the number of bedrooms in a dwelling based on the size of the lot?
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In most cases, the Board of Health limits the number of bedrooms in a dwelling based on the size of the septic system that can be constructed on the lot. Exceptions to this include properties within the District of Critical Planning Concern (DCPC), a Zone II, or lots served by well water. Properties within 1,500 feet of the mean high water of Lagoon Pond are considered to be located in the DCPC and are limited to one bedroom per 15,000 square feet of land area, with a maximum of three bedrooms for properties under 45,000 square feet. Properties within a Zone II or served by well water are limited to one bedroom per 10,000 square feet of land area. Specific questions about designing a septic system should be addressed with your engineer.
For additional assistance, please contact the Board of Health Office.