Hanson Board of Health raises septic, percolation, and transfer station fees

HANSON — March 11, 2025 — Hanson Board of Health approves sweeping fee increases for septic permits, percolation tests, and transfer station stickers. The board voted unanimously Tuesday to raise the standard residential septic construction permit from $200 to $300, double the business permit rate for systems up to 5,000 gallons per day from $250 to $500, and push the business rate for larger systems from $300 to $800. The septic component replacement fee rises from $100 to $250. The board also restructured pay for outside percolation witness Colin McWeeney — in place for seven years at $50 per hour with no guaranteed minimum — to $200 for a half day and $400 for a full day, with corresponding public fees of $300 and $600. Transfer station stickers rise from $65 to $80 and bags from $245 to $260 per bag effective July 1, 2025. The increases come as the department faces a fiscal year 2026 budget-cut request of $14,792, which the administrator said she can only partially meet, leaving a $5,517 gap even after reducing nearly every discretionary line item.