Soil and perc tests in Alachua County, Florida

USDA rates most of the soil in Alachua County Very limited for septic absorption fields — 84.9% of the rated acres. Florida law requires a check of the soil, the water table and the slope before the state issues a permit. USDA NRCS Soil Data Access (SSURGO) · checked 2026-10-05

Very limited

USDA rating, 84.9% of rated acres

checked 2026-10-05

Depth to saturated zone

Most common limiting reason

checked 2026-10-05

Yes

Site evaluation required

checked 2026-09-23

What is a perc test and does Alachua County require one?

Yes. Florida law requires a check of the soil, the water table and the slope before the state issues a 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

How USDA rates the ground in Alachua County

Very limited across most of the county — 84.9% of the rated acres. A rating describes the ground, not a parcel. The county's site evaluation decides each lot.

Very limited — 481,132 acres — 84.9% of 566,627 rated acres.
Somewhat limited — 85,495 acres — 15.1% of 566,627 rated acres.
Not rated — 53,873 acres, excluded from the denominator — mostly urban land and water.

84.9% of 566,627 rated acres. 53,873 acres unrated. Survey area FL001 version 29, established 2026-09-02.

USDA NRCS Soil Data Access (SSURGO) · checked 2026-10-05

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.

Depth to saturated zone — 406,526 acres. Reasons overlap — a component can carry several — so these acres exceed rated acres.
Slow water movement — 376,888 acres. Reasons overlap — a component can carry several — so these acres exceed rated acres.
Seepage, bottom layer — 213,394 acres. Reasons overlap — a component can carry several — so these acres exceed rated acres.
Filtering capacity — 125,613 acres. Reasons overlap — a component can carry several — so these acres exceed rated acres.
Ponding — 62,387 acres. Reasons overlap — a component can carry several — so these acres exceed rated acres.
Subsidence — 18,707 acres. Reasons overlap — a component can carry several — so these acres exceed rated acres.
Depth to bedrock — 12,206 acres. Reasons overlap — a component can carry several — so these acres exceed rated acres.
Flooding — 12,088 acres. Reasons overlap — a component can carry several — so these acres exceed rated acres.
Slope — 328 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.

14 — Pomona sand, 0 to 2 percent slopes — 57,160 acres in this county — rated Very limited. Dominant component: Pomona (70% of the map unit).
3 — Arredondo fine sand, 0 to 5 percent slopes — 54,293 acres in this county — rated Very limited. Dominant component: Arredondo (82% of the map unit).
8 — Millhopper sand, 0 to 5 percent slopes — 51,974 acres in this county — rated Somewhat limited. Dominant component: Millhopper (85% of the map unit).
99 — Water — 43,500 acres in this county — rated Not rated. Dominant component: Water (100% of the map unit).
2 — Candler fine sand, 0 to 5 percent slopes — 24,941 acres in this county — rated Very limited. Dominant component: Candler (85% of the map unit).
50 — Sparr fine sand — 21,349 acres in this county — rated Very limited. Dominant component: Sparr (85% of the map unit).
21 — Newnan sand — 20,541 acres in this county — rated Very limited. Dominant component: Newnan (80% of the map unit).
20 — Tavares sand, 0 to 5 percent slopes — 19,137 acres in this county — rated Very limited. Dominant component: Tavares (85% of the map unit).

USDA NRCS Soil Data Access (SSURGO) · checked 2026-10-05

Sources

Each figure on this page has a government source and a checked-on date.

Florida Department of Health in Alachua County · checked 2026-10-05
Florida Department of Health in Alachua County · checked 2026-10-05
Alachua County Health Department, Application Acknowledgement and Check List · checked 2026-10-05
Florida Department of Health, Environmental Health Fee Schedule · checked 2026-10-05
Florida Administrative Code, Rule 62-6.004, Application for System Construction Permit · checked 2026-09-23
USDA NRCS Soil Data Access (SSURGO) · checked 2026-10-05

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.