Very limited
USDA rating, 57.4% of rated acres
checked 2026-09-23
Slope
Most common limiting reason
checked 2026-09-23
Yes
Site evaluation required
checked 2026-09-23
How USDA rates the ground in Jefferson County
Very limited across most of the county
— 57.4% of the rated acres.
A rating describes the ground, not a parcel. The county's site evaluation decides each lot.
- Very limited — 296,512 acres — 57.4% of 516,341 rated acres.
- Somewhat limited — 218,545 acres — 42.3% of 516,341 rated acres.
- Not limited — 1,284 acres — 0.2% of 516,341 rated acres.
- Not rated — 67,032 acres, excluded from the denominator — mostly urban land and water.
57.4% of 516,341 rated acres. 67,032 acres unrated. Survey area AL073 version 18, established 2025-09-10.
USDA NRCS Soil Data Access (SSURGO) · checked 2026-09-23
What limits absorption here
The reasons USDA gives for the rating, by the acres they affect. A component can carry several, so
the acres overlap.
- Slope — 467,291 acres. Reasons overlap — a component can carry several — so these acres exceed rated acres.
- Depth to bedrock — 372,231 acres. Reasons overlap — a component can carry several — so these acres exceed rated acres.
- Slow water movement — 313,830 acres. Reasons overlap — a component can carry several — so these acres exceed rated acres.
- Seepage, bottom layer — 64,237 acres. Reasons overlap — a component can carry several — so these acres exceed rated acres.
- Depth to saturated zone — 37,119 acres. Reasons overlap — a component can carry several — so these acres exceed rated acres.
- Flooding — 23,324 acres. Reasons overlap — a component can carry several — so these acres exceed rated acres.
- Large stones — 8,946 acres. Reasons overlap — a component can carry several — so these acres exceed rated acres.
- Ponding — 726 acres. Reasons overlap — a component can carry several — so these acres exceed rated acres.
- Depth to cemented pan — 50 acres. Reasons overlap — a component can carry several — so these acres exceed rated acres.
Ratings by soil map unit
The largest map units in the county, each with its rating. A soil survey names the ground.
The county's evaluation of your lot is what a permit turns on.
- 29 — Montevallo-Nauvoo association, 6 to 45 percent slopes — 264,300 acres in this county — rated Very limited. Dominant component: Montevallo (45% of the map unit).
- 31 — Nauvoo fine sandy loam, 8 to 15 percent slopes — 51,440 acres in this county — rated Somewhat limited. Dominant component: Nauvoo (85% of the map unit).
- 34 — Nauvoo-Montevallo association, 10 to 40 percent slopes — 47,380 acres in this county — rated Very limited. Dominant component: Nauvoo (45% of the map unit).
- 35 — Palmerdale complex, steep — 32,760 acres in this county — rated Very limited. Dominant component: Palmerdale (70% of the map unit).
- 44 — Urban land — 27,080 acres in this county — rated Not rated. Dominant component: Urban land (95% of the map unit).
- 40 — Townley-Nauvoo complex, 8 to 15 percent slopes — 25,870 acres in this county — rated Very limited. Dominant component: Townley (50% of the map unit).
- 8 — Bodine-Birmingham association, steep — 25,560 acres in this county — rated Very limited. Dominant component: Bodine (40% of the map unit).
- 18 — Fullerton-Urban land complex, 8 to 15 percent slopes — 21,990 acres in this county — rated Somewhat limited. Dominant component: Fullerton (45% of the map unit).
USDA NRCS Soil Data Access (SSURGO) · checked 2026-09-23
Verify before you act. Septic rules are set locally and they change. Check anything
here before you spend money on it. Call the Jefferson County Department of Health, on (205) 930-1230.