Septic permits and fees in Alachua County, Florida

A septic system permit in Alachua County costs $100. The county sets that fee in its own schedule. Florida Department of Health in Alachua County, Environmental Health issues the permit. State rules fix the tank floor at 900 gallons. A private well needs 75 feet from the whole system, a property line 5 feet. Florida Department of Health, Environmental Health Fee Schedule · checked 2026-10-05

$100

Septic system permit

checked 2026-10-05

900 gallons

Tank floor, state rule

checked 2026-09-23

75 feet

System to a well

checked 2026-09-23

Which septic permit applies in Alachua County?

The septic system permit, and it starts with the site evaluation. Florida law requires a check of the soil, the water table and the slope before the state issues a permit. The permit follows a passing evaluation. The building permit follows the septic permit.

A county inspector checks the soil at the site.

Florida Administrative Code, Rule 62-6.004, Application for System Construction Permit · checked 2026-09-23

What are the current septic fees in Alachua County?

$100 for a septic system permit, on the county's own fee schedule.

Applies to a new system for a three-bedroom home.

In effect from July 1, 2022.

The county's fee table for this permit
1. Application and plan review for construction permit for new systems shown above	$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 shown above	$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 shown above	$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

What state law fixes for every Florida system

900 gallons minimum septic tank capacity

Applies to a home flow of 300 gallons a day or less, three bedrooms or fewer.

This is the floor under the rule's tank-capacity table. The required tank grows as the estimated flow rises. A separate table sets a home's daily flow from its bedroom count and floor area.

Florida Administrative Code, Rule 62-6.008, System Size Determinations, Table II · checked 2026-09-23
75 feet from a private drinking-water well to any part of the system

Applies to a private well for one home, or a shared well for several homes.

A public well needs a wider setback than a private well. The exact distance grows with how much water the public well serves.

Florida Administrative Code, Rule 62-6.005, Location and Installation · checked 2026-09-23
5 feet from any property line

The same five feet keeps a system off building walls and pool walls. It can sit closer to a shared utility easement with no buried line.

Florida Administrative Code, Rule 62-6.005, Location and Installation · checked 2026-09-23

What Alachua County requires that the state does not

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
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

Where do you file the application with Florida Department of Health in Alachua County, Environmental Health?

Florida Department of Health in Alachua County, Environmental Health, 224 SE 24th St., Gainesville, FL 32641, 352-334-7930.

This is the Environmental Health number.

Florida Department of Health in Alachua County · checked 2026-10-05

The steps, in the county's order

Fill out the permit application. Add a site plan and floor plans.
A health department inspector checks the soil at the site.
Give the nearest intersection and the distance from it to the site.
After you get the permit, give a copy to the county Building Department.

Alachua County Health Department, Application Acknowledgement and Check List · checked 2026-10-05

How do you get a copy of your septic permit record in Alachua County?

Ask Florida Department of Health in Alachua County, Environmental Health for the permit record for the property. Call 352-334-7930 or start at its website.