Septic rules and requirements in Alachua County, Florida
Septic permits in Alachua County are issued by the Florida Department of Health in Alachua County, Environmental Health. A new system permit costs $100. USDA rates most of the soil in the county Very limited for septic absorption fields — 84.9% of the rated acres. Florida Department of Health in Alachua County · checked 2026-10-05
Florida Department of Health in Alachua County, Environmental Health
Issues the permit
checked 2026-10-05
$100
Septic system permit
checked 2026-10-05
Very limited
USDA rating, 84.9% of rated acres
checked 2026-10-05
Who issues septic permits in Alachua County?
Florida Department of Health in Alachua County, Environmental Health, at 224 SE 24th St., Gainesville, FL 32641, 352-334-7930. It is part of county government. The state writes the rules it applies.
The county health department issues septic permits. It is part of the state Department of Health.
This is the Environmental Health number.
Florida Department of Health in Alachua County · checked 2026-10-05
What does a septic permit cost in Alachua County?
$100 for a septic system permit, on the county's own schedule.
Applies to a new system for a three-bedroom home.
In effect from July 1, 2022.
| 1. Application and plan review for construction permit for new systems | $100 | a new system |
|---|---|---|
| 2. Application and approval for existing system, if system inspection not required | $35 | a existing system the source lists as system inspection not required |
| 3. Application and Existing System Evaluation | $50 | a existing system |
| 4. Application for permitting of a new Performance-based treatment system | $125 | a performance-based treatment system |
| 5. Site evaluation | $115 | any system |
| 6. Site re-evaluation | $50 | any system |
| 7. Permit or permit amendment for new systems, modification or repair to system. | $55 | a system the source lists as permit or permit amendment for new systems, modification or repair |
| 8. Research and Training Surcharges-Collected at the CHDs | $5 | a system the source lists as surcharge collected at the county health department |
| 9. Initial system inspection | $75 | any system |
| 10. System reinspection (stabilization, non-compliance or other inspection after initial inspection) | $50 | a system the source lists as reinspection after the initial inspection |
| 11. Application for system abandonment permit, includes permit issuance and inspection | $50 | a abandonment system |
| 12. Annual operating permit fee for industrial/manufacturing zoning or commercial sewage waste | $150 | a system the source lists as annual |
| 13. Biennial operating permit for aerobic treatment unit or performance based treatment system | $100 | a aerobic treatment unit or performance based treatment system the source lists as biennial |
| 14. Amendments to operating permit | $50 | any system |
| 15. Tank manufacturer's inspection per annum | $100 | a system the source lists as per annum |
| 16. Septage disposal service permit per annum | $75 | a system the source lists as per annum |
| 17. Portable or temporary toilet service permit per annum | $75 | a system the source lists as per annum |
| 18. Additional charge per pump out vehicle | $35 | a system, per pump out vehicle |
| 19. Septage stabilization facility inspection fee per annum | $150 | a system the source lists as per annum |
| 20. Septage disposal site evaluation fee per annum | $200 | a system the source lists as per annum |
| 21. Aerobic treatment unit maintenance entity permit per annum | $25 | a system the source lists as per annum |
| 22. Variance application for a single family residence per each lot or building site | $200 | a system, per lot or building site |
| 23. Variance application for a multi-family or commercial building per each building site | $300 | a system, per building site |
| 24. Inspection for construction of an injection well (FL Keys) | $125 | a injection well system the source lists as Florida Keys |
This is the fee to review a new system. The same table lists other fees for site checks and inspections.
Florida Department of Health, Environmental Health Fee Schedule · checked 2026-10-05
Is the soil in Alachua County suitable for a septic system?
USDA rates most of the county Very limited for septic absorption fields — 84.9% of the rated acres. A rating describes the ground, not a parcel. The county's site evaluation decides each lot.
USDA NRCS Soil Data Access (SSURGO) · checked 2026-10-05
What Alachua County sets itself
The state writes the code. Alachua County adds the rules below. They are what makes this page differ from the Florida requirements.
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$50
Applies to a site that is not marked.
The office adds a fee when the site has no marks. The state fee table has no such fee.
Alachua County Health Department, Application Acknowledgement and Check List · checked 2026-10-05
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Give the county Building Department a copy of the permit
Applies to any permit except a repair.
The county asks for a copy of the permit. The state rule has no such step.
Alachua County Health Department, Application Acknowledgement and Check List · checked 2026-10-05
Sources
Each figure above has a government source and a checked-on date. USDA's Soil Data Access service supplies the soil records. A script writes them, and nobody types them.
- Florida Department of Health in Alachua County
- Florida Department of Health in Alachua County
- Alachua County Health Department, Application Acknowledgement and Check List
- Florida Department of Health, Environmental Health Fee Schedule
- Florida Administrative Code, Rule 62-6.004, Application for System Construction Permit
- USDA NRCS Soil Data Access (SSURGO)
Verify before you act. Septic rules are set locally and they change. Check anything here before you spend money on it. Call the Florida Department of Health in Alachua County, Environmental Health, on 352-334-7930.