Time of Transfer inspections

Iowa's Time of Transfer (ToT) inspection law, Iowa Code 455B.172, requires every home or building served by a private sewage disposal system to have that system inspected before the sale or deed transfer of the home or building. All inspections must be conducted by an inspector certified by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR), and the rules are in 567 IAC Chapter 69.

In a Phase I ESA

ASTM E1527-21 does not name septic system inspection records among its standard record sources. For a property served by a private sewage disposal system, the ToT report is the record of the inspection made before an earlier sale or transfer.

Three Iowa details shape how to read one.

• What the law is after. DNR says the purpose of the law is to eliminate sub-standard or polluting systems. A sub-standard system is one with no secondary treatment following the septic tank, or with a secondary treatment component that has failed. DNR says a system with a septic tank and a secondary treatment component, such as a leach field or sand filter, that is not creating a public health or environmental hazard does not have to meet current code.
• The database starts in 2021. Inspectors enter reports in the ToT Database, which transmits each one to DNR and to the county where the property is located. Once submitted, a report is available to the public. DNR notes that the database currently only has inspection reports since 2021.
• Other forms at transfer. DNR's page links binding agreement forms for a weather delayed inspection, for demolition and for a future installation, a document on inspection exemptions, and the Groundwater Hazard Statement form (542-0960) with its attachment and instructions. The pages read do not describe the Groundwater Hazard Statement.

Where to look a site up

• DNR's ToT Database. DNR says anyone may use it to search for inspection reports through "Search Inspection Reports" on its home page, with no need to create an account. A public user manual and a video are on the database's Help tab.

Getting the file

DNR's Document Search lists a Water Quality - Time of Transfer program. DNR's Records Center, at 6200 Park Ave, Suite 200, Des Moines, is open 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except state holidays. DNR's Open Records Request page says requests to inspect public records go to the Office of the Chief Information Officer through the Iowa Information and Public Records Request Portal, and may also be made in person at a record center, by email to dnr.records.request@dnr.iowa.gov, or by mail.

Sources

Iowa Department of Natural Resources pages, read October 12, 2026:

• Time of Transfer, last modified August 19, 2026.
• Open Records Request, last modified March 13, 2026.