Weather conditions make it impossible to conduct a required Massachusetts Title 5 inspection before closing.

The correct answer is C, Six months. MassDEP recognizes that weather conditions can sometimes prevent a valid on-site septic-system inspection before a property sale.

Where the weather exception applies, the inspection may generally be completed within six months after the sale, provided the seller gives the purchaser the required written notification regarding the outstanding inspection obligation.

The exception should not be misunderstood as a general option allowing all sellers to postpone inspections until after closing. The standard expectation remains an inspection within two years before the sale. The six-month post-transfer period is a specific accommodation for circumstances such as weather that genuinely prevent timely inspection.

The buyer should receive the resulting inspection report, and the report must be submitted to the appropriate Board of Health or MassDEP authority according to the type of system.

Study Guide Reference: Land Use Controls and Regulations — Title 5 Inspection Timing and Exceptions.