Septic rules and requirements in Lake County, Florida

Who issues septic permits in Lake County?

Florida Department of Health in Lake County, Environmental Public Health, at 320 W. Main Street, Tavares, FL 32778, 352-253-6130.

Lake County does not issue septic permits. Florida Department of Health in Lake County, Environmental Public Health, an office of the state health department, issues them. It permits and inspects septic systems under rules the state sets.

This is the Environmental Public Health office line.

Florida Department of Health in Lake County — Environmental Public Health · checked 2026-09-23

What does a septic permit cost in Lake County?

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

Applies to a construction permit for a new septic system, with plan review.

The Florida Administrative Code sets one fee schedule for every county.

Florida Administrative Code, Rule 62-6.030, Fees · checked 2026-09-23

What does an inspection or a replacement cost in Lake County?

These are prices, not permit fees. Each one comes from a government source.

$50 for an inspection.

Applies to an inspection of a septic system already in use. It comes before the county approves the system.

A licensed contractor or plumber inspects the tank when it is empty. The contractor reports the results to the department. The department charges less if the system already has a good record.

Florida Administrative Code, Rule 62-6.030(1)(c), Fees · checked 2026-09-23

$10,000 for a replacement.

Applies to adding nitrogen-reducing features to a septic system already in use, or connecting a home to sewer. The lot must sit in the Wekiwa Spring and Rock Springs Basin Management Action Plan area. That area covers part of Lake County, and the plan states a range of $10,000 to $20,000 a system.

Florida adopted this plan to cut nitrogen reaching Wekiwa Spring and Rock Springs. State cost-share funds may offset part of the fee.

Florida Department of Environmental Protection — Wekiwa Spring and Rock Springs Basin Management Action Plan (June 2018) · checked 2026-09-23

Is the soil in Lake County suitable for a septic system?

USDA rates most of the county Very limited for septic absorption fields — 94.6% of the rated acres. A rating describes the ground, not a parcel. The county's site evaluation decides each lot.

• Very limited — 565,105 acres — 94.6% of 597,278 rated acres.
• Somewhat limited — 30,315 acres — 5.1% of 597,278 rated acres.
• Not limited — 1,858 acres — 0.3% of 597,278 rated acres.
• Not rated — 109,096 acres, excluded from the denominator — mostly urban land and water.

USDA NRCS Soil Data Access (SSURGO) · checked 2026-09-13

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.

1. Florida Department of Health in Lake County — Environmental Public Health · checked 2026-09-23
2. Florida Department of Health in Lake County — Environmental Health · checked 2026-09-23
3. Florida Administrative Code, Rule 62-6.030, Fees · checked 2026-09-23
4. USDA NRCS Soil Data Access (SSURGO) · checked 2026-09-13
5. Florida Department of Environmental Protection — Wekiwa Spring and Rock Springs Basin Management Action Plan (June 2018) · checked 2026-09-23

Related pages

• Septic rules in Lake County
• Septic permits and fees in Lake County, Florida
• Soil and perc tests in Lake County, Florida
• Septic rules and requirements in Florida