Tex. Health & Safety Code Ann. ch. 341 (subchs. A, B, E, F) § 341.014
DISPOSAL OF HUMAN EXCRETA.
Operative Text
Sec. 341.014. DISPOSAL OF HUMAN EXCRETA. (a) Human excreta in a populous area shall be disposed of through properly managed sewers, treatment tanks, chemical toilets, or privies constructed and maintained in conformity with the department's specifications, or by other methods approved by the department. The disposal system shall be sufficient to prevent the pollution of surface soil, the contamination of a drinking water supply, the infection of flies or cockroaches, or the creation of any other public health nuisance.(b) Effluent from septic tanks constructed after September 4, 1945, shall be disposed of through:(1) a subsurface drainage field designed in accordance with good public health engineering practices; or(2) any other method that does not create a public health nuisance.(c) A privy may not be constructed within 75 feet of a drinking water well or of a human habitation, other than a habitation to which the privy is appurtenant, without approval by the local health authority or the department. A privy may not be constructed or maintained over an abandoned well or over a stream.(d) The superstructure and floor surrounding the seat riser and hopper device of a privy constructed and maintained in conformity with the department's specifications shall be kept in a sanitary condition at all times and must have adequate lighting and ventilation.(e) Material and human excreta removed from a privy vault or from any other place shall be handled in a manner that does not create a public health nuisance. The material and human excreta may not be deposited within 300 feet of a highway unless buried or treated in accordance with the instructions of the local health authority or the department. Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989.Amended by: Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1 (S.B. 219), Sec. 3.0860, eff. April 2, 2015.
Section 341.014 of the Texas Health & Safety Code establishes rules for how human waste must be disposed of in populated areas, requiring the use of properly managed sewers, treatment tanks, chemical toilets, or approved privies that prevent soil pollution, water contamination, and other public health hazards. Septic tank effluent must be directed through subsurface drainage fields or other non-nuisance methods. The law also sets specific distance requirements for privies relative to drinking water wells and other habitations, and governs how waste removed from privy vaults must be handled and where it may be deposited.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating under § 341.014 generally ensure that any waste disposal system on their property—whether a sewer connection, septic tank, chemical toilet, or privy—meets the specifications set by the Texas Department of State Health Services and is sufficient to prevent contamination of soil, water, or other public health hazards. Compliant operators maintain privies in sanitary condition with adequate lighting and ventilation, and verify that any privy is sited at least 75 feet from drinking water wells and neighboring habitations unless local health authority approval has been obtained. When waste is removed from a privy vault, operators handle and deposit it in accordance with § 341.014's requirements, including the 300-foot buffer from highways unless the material is buried or treated per agency instructions.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under § 341.014, tenants have a right to occupy housing where waste disposal systems are properly maintained and do not create public health nuisances such as soil pollution or drinking water contamination. If a rental property's sewage or privy system appears to violate these standards—for example, a privy that is unsanitary, poorly ventilated, or improperly sited—tenants may report concerns to the local health authority or the Texas Department of State Health Services, which have oversight responsibilities under this provision. Tenant-rights organizations can help residents understand what documentation to gather and what local or state complaint processes may be available.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 28, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
References Out
No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.
References In
Rules and statutes that cite this regulation