Soil and perc tests in Lake County, Florida

USDA rates most of the soil in Lake County Very limited for septic absorption fields — 94.6% of the rated acres. State rules require 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 2026-09-13

Very limited

USDA rating, 94.6% of rated acres

checked 2026-09-13

Seepage, bottom layer

Most common limiting reason

checked 2026-09-13

Yes

Site evaluation required

checked 2026-09-23

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

Yes. State rules require 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 Lake County

Very limited across most of the county — 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.

94.6% of 597,278 rated acres. 109,096 acres unrated. Spans 2 survey areas. The largest are FL607 (v25), FL609 (v25). Versions established 2025-08-28.

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

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 — 482,617 acres. Reasons overlap — a component can carry several — so these acres exceed rated acres.
Depth to saturated zone — 391,837 acres. Reasons overlap — a component can carry several — so these acres exceed rated acres.
Filtering capacity — 338,962 acres. Reasons overlap — a component can carry several — so these acres exceed rated acres.
Ponding — 188,638 acres. Reasons overlap — a component can carry several — so these acres exceed rated acres.
Slow water movement — 142,074 acres. Reasons overlap — a component can carry several — so these acres exceed rated acres.
Subsidence — 91,138 acres. Reasons overlap — a component can carry several — so these acres exceed rated acres.
Flooding — 55,756 acres. Reasons overlap — a component can carry several — so these acres exceed rated acres.
Slope — 49,963 acres. Reasons overlap — a component can carry several — so these acres exceed rated acres.
Depth to bedrock — 550 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.

99 — Water — 95,300 acres in this county — rated Not rated. Dominant component: Water (100% of the map unit).
8 — Candler sand, 0 to 5 percent slopes — 73,841 acres in this county — rated Very limited. Dominant component: Candler (90% of the map unit).
28 — Myakka-Myakka, wet, sands, 0 to 2 percent slopes — 47,328 acres in this county — rated Very limited. Dominant component: Myakka (75% of the map unit).
9 — Candler sand, 5 to 12 percent slopes — 37,952 acres in this county — rated Very limited. Dominant component: Candler (85% of the map unit).
44 — Swamp — 36,930 acres in this county — rated Very limited. Dominant component: Organic soil (51% of the map unit).
45 — Tavares sand, 0 to 5 percent slopes — 28,020 acres in this county — rated Very limited. Dominant component: Tavares (85% of the map unit).
40 — Placid and Myakka sands, depressional — 24,337 acres in this county — rated Very limited. Dominant component: Placid (55% of the map unit).
4 — Anclote and Myakka soils — 23,409 acres in this county — rated Very limited. Dominant component: Anclote (35% of the map unit).

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

Sources

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

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

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 Lake County, Environmental Public Health, on 352-253-6130.