Marshfield has a lot of homes near the coast, marshes and flood zones, and the town's septic bylaw (Chapter 645) reflects that. Here's how it affects a Title 5 inspection or a system replacement in Marshfield.
Title 5 inspections in Marshfield
Standard Title 5
$425- Required for home sales and transfers
- Town records and water usage pulled for you
- Report filed with your Board of Health
Confidential System Evaluation
$500- Full camera inspection of the lines
- Private report to you. Nothing filed with the town
- Find problems on your own timeline, before you list
Not an official Title 5 inspection. It can't be used for a sale or transfer.
Marshfield rules that go beyond state Title 5
- The Board of Health can require a soil evaluation as part of any Title 5 inspection.
- Single-cesspool systems must be upgraded to meet Title 5 and town standards.
- A soil absorption area that sits below seasonal high groundwater is counted as a failure.
- In FEMA flood hazard zones, the lowest point of a leaching facility can't be below the flood elevation.
- Leach fields must be at least 200 ft from a drinking water well (twice the state minimum for a private well) and 100 ft from a watercourse.
What this means for you
Near the water or in a flood zone? Groundwater and flood elevation drive most outcomes in Marshfield. If your system needs replacing, those rules shape the design, so it pays to have the inspection and any follow-up work handled by the same team.
Marshfield Board of Health
Marshfield Board of Health
870 Moraine Street, Marshfield, MA 02050
Phone: 781-834-5558
Septic and Title 5 information from the town
Summarized from the town's published regulations as of September 2026. Rules change, so always confirm current requirements with the Board of Health.
If your Marshfield system needs work
A failed inspection or a Conditional Pass isn't the end of the road. J. Bean Excavation handles septic repairs and full replacements, working with your engineer and the Marshfield Board of Health. We also do drainage and land clearing.
Have questions first? See the Title 5 FAQ.