Soil and perc tests in Marion County, Florida

USDA rates most of the soil in Marion County Very limited for septic absorption fields — 90.7% of the rated acres. The Department requires a site evaluation of the soil and topography before it issues a permit. An applicant may hire a private evaluator, or ask the Department to do it. USDA NRCS Soil Data Access (SSURGO) · checked 2026-09-13

Very limited

USDA rating, 90.7% 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 Marion County require one?

Yes. The Department requires a site evaluation of the soil and topography before it issues a permit. An applicant may hire a private evaluator, or ask the Department to do it.

Florida Department of Environmental Protection — Onsite Sewage FAQ, Permitting · checked 2026-09-23

How USDA rates the ground in Marion County

Very limited across most of the county — 90.7% of the rated acres. A rating describes the ground, not a parcel. The county's site evaluation decides each lot.

Very limited — 955,970 acres — 90.7% of 1,054,543 rated acres.
Somewhat limited — 73,910 acres — 7.0% of 1,054,543 rated acres.
Not limited — 24,663 acres — 2.3% of 1,054,543 rated acres.
Not rated — 41,926 acres, excluded from the denominator — mostly urban land and water.

90.7% of 1,054,543 rated acres. 41,926 acres unrated. Spans 2 survey areas. The largest are FL608 (v23), 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 — 707,271 acres. Reasons overlap — a component can carry several — so these acres exceed rated acres.
Filtering capacity — 554,847 acres. Reasons overlap — a component can carry several — so these acres exceed rated acres.
Depth to saturated zone — 426,583 acres. Reasons overlap — a component can carry several — so these acres exceed rated acres.
Slow water movement — 372,087 acres. Reasons overlap — a component can carry several — so these acres exceed rated acres.
Ponding — 91,486 acres. Reasons overlap — a component can carry several — so these acres exceed rated acres.
Subsidence — 40,225 acres. Reasons overlap — a component can carry several — so these acres exceed rated acres.
Slope — 29,749 acres. Reasons overlap — a component can carry several — so these acres exceed rated acres.
Flooding — 16,246 acres. Reasons overlap — a component can carry several — so these acres exceed rated acres.
Depth to bedrock — 10,173 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.

22 — Candler sand, 0 to 5 percent slopes — 191,809 acres in this county — rated Very limited. Dominant component: Candler (90% of the map unit).
2 — Astatula and Candler sands, 0 to 5 percent slopes — 103,615 acres in this county — rated Very limited. Dominant component: Astatula (75% of the map unit).
9 — Arredondo sand, 0 to 5 percent slopes — 78,575 acres in this county — rated Very limited. Dominant component: Arredondo (80% of the map unit).
5 — Astatula sand, 0 to 5 percent slopes — 38,386 acres in this county — rated Very limited. Dominant component: Astatula (90% of the map unit).
17 — Blichton sand, 2 to 5 percent slopes — 37,014 acres in this county — rated Very limited. Dominant component: Blichton (75% of the map unit).
44 — Kendrick loamy sand, 0 to 5 percent slopes — 36,947 acres in this county — rated Somewhat limited. Dominant component: Kendrick (85% of the map unit).
9 — Astatula sand, fire regime, 0 to 5 percent slopes — 28,104 acres in this county — rated Very limited. Dominant component: Astatula (85% of the map unit).
34 — Flemington loamy sand, 2 to 5 percent slopes — 25,870 acres in this county — rated Very limited. Dominant component: Flemington (80% 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 Environmental Protection — Onsite Sewage FAQ, Permitting · checked 2026-09-23
Florida Administrative Code, Rule 62-6.030, Fees · checked 2026-09-23
Florida Department of Environmental Protection — Onsite Sewage Program Transfer · checked 2026-09-23
USDA NRCS Soil Data Access (SSURGO) · checked 2026-09-13

Verify before you act. Septic rules are set locally and they change. Check anything here before you spend money on it. Call the Onsite Sewage Program, Florida Department of Environmental Protection.