Soil and perc tests in Citrus County, Florida

USDA rates most of the soil in Citrus County Very limited for septic absorption fields — 97.4% of the rated acres. Florida law requires a site evaluation of the lot's soil, water table and slope before the department issues a construction permit. USDA NRCS Soil Data Access (SSURGO) · checked 2026-09-12

Very limited

USDA rating, 97.4% of rated acres

checked 2026-09-12

Seepage, bottom layer

Most common limiting reason

checked 2026-09-12

Yes

Site evaluation required

checked 2026-09-23

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

Yes. Florida law requires a site evaluation of the lot's soil, water table and slope before the department issues a construction permit.

An engineer, a department employee, a contractor or a soil scientist may do the evaluation. It must include two soil checks. Each must reach six feet deep in the drainfield.

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

How USDA rates the ground in Citrus County

Very limited across most of the county — 97.4% of the rated acres. A rating describes the ground, not a parcel. The county's site evaluation decides each lot.

Very limited — 335,514 acres — 97.4% of 344,609 rated acres.
Somewhat limited — 9,095 acres — 2.6% of 344,609 rated acres.
Not rated — 51,192 acres, excluded from the denominator — mostly urban land and water.

97.4% of 344,609 rated acres. 51,192 acres unrated. Survey area FL017 version 25, established 2025-08-28.

USDA NRCS Soil Data Access (SSURGO) · checked 2026-09-12

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.

Seepage, bottom layer — 308,747 acres. Reasons overlap — a component can carry several — so these acres exceed rated acres.
Filtering capacity — 248,977 acres. Reasons overlap — a component can carry several — so these acres exceed rated acres.
Depth to saturated zone — 162,666 acres. Reasons overlap — a component can carry several — so these acres exceed rated acres.
Flooding — 43,694 acres. Reasons overlap — a component can carry several — so these acres exceed rated acres.
Depth to bedrock — 43,566 acres. Reasons overlap — a component can carry several — so these acres exceed rated acres.
Slow water movement — 37,888 acres. Reasons overlap — a component can carry several — so these acres exceed rated acres.
Ponding — 31,518 acres. Reasons overlap — a component can carry several — so these acres exceed rated acres.
Subsidence — 9,829 acres. Reasons overlap — a component can carry several — so these acres exceed rated acres.
Slope — 1,108 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.

3 — Candler fine sand, 0 to 5 percent slopes — 74,078 acres in this county — rated Very limited. Dominant component: Candler (85% of the map unit).
100 — Waters of the Gulf of America — 30,497 acres in this county — rated Not rated. Dominant component: Waters of the Gulf of America (100% of the map unit).
14 — Lake fine sand, 0 to 5 percent slopes — 30,007 acres in this county — rated Very limited. Dominant component: Lake (85% of the map unit).
29 — Astatula fine sand, 0 to 5 percent slopes — 29,162 acres in this county — rated Very limited. Dominant component: Astatula (88% of the map unit).
11 — Tavares fine sand, 0 to 5 percent slopes — 28,104 acres in this county — rated Very limited. Dominant component: Tavares (85% of the map unit).
16 — Arredondo fine sand, 0 to 5 percent slopes — 18,404 acres in this county — rated Very limited. Dominant component: Arredondo (82% of the map unit).
38 — Rock outcrop-Homosassa-Lacoochee complex — 15,021 acres in this county — rated Very limited. Dominant component: Rock outcrop (40% of the map unit).
99 — Water — 13,432 acres in this county — rated Not rated. Dominant component: Water (100% of the map unit).

USDA NRCS Soil Data Access (SSURGO) · checked 2026-09-12

Sources

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

Florida Department of Health in Citrus County — Environmental Health · checked 2026-09-23
Florida Department of Health in Citrus County — Onsite Sewage Disposal · checked 2026-09-23
Citrus County Comprehensive Plan, Conservation Element, Policy 3.19.2 · checked 2026-09-23
Florida Administrative Code, Rule 62-6.030, Fees · checked 2026-09-23
USDA NRCS Soil Data Access (SSURGO) · checked 2026-09-12

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 Citrus County, Environmental Health, on 352-513-6100.