Septic permits and fees in Santa Rosa County, Florida

A septic system permit in Santa Rosa County costs $433. The county sets that fee in its own schedule. Florida Department of Health in Santa Rosa County, Environmental Public Health issues the permit. State rules fix the tank floor at 900 gallons. A private well needs 75 feet from the whole system, a property line 5 feet. Florida Department of Health in Santa Rosa County — Information Required for Septic Applications (2024) · checked 2026-09-24

$433

Septic system permit

checked 2026-09-24

900 gallons

Tank floor, state rule

checked 2026-09-23

75 feet

System to a well

checked 2026-09-23

Which septic permit applies in Santa Rosa County?

The septic system permit, and it starts with the site evaluation. Florida law requires a check of the soil, the water table and the slope before the state issues a permit. The permit follows a passing evaluation. The building permit follows the septic 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

What are the current septic fees in Santa Rosa County?

$433 for a septic system permit, on the county's own fee schedule.

Applies to a new septic system permit, the permit cost.

In effect from July 1, 2024.

The county's fee table for this permit
TANK ABANDONMENT (includes inspection)	$113	a abandonment system
NEW SYSTEM PERMIT shown above	$433	a new system
NEW SYSTEM PERMIT — Site Only (No permit issued)	$378	a new system the source lists as site evaluation only, no permit issued
EXISTING SYSTEM (Like for Like) Residential	$112	a home with a existing_like_for_like system
EXISTING SYSTEM (Like for Like) Commercial	$162	a business with a existing_like_for_like system
MODIFICATION PERMIT	$326	a modification system the source lists as if existing system needs to be upgraded
REPAIR PERMIT	$288	a repair system
site re-evaluation fee	$113	a system the source lists as charged if the lot is not accessible for the site visit
DOH inspection fee	$75	a system the source lists as construction inspection fee, charged before inspection; not included in other permit fees except abandonment

This fee pays for the permit. A site check alone costs less.

Florida Department of Health in Santa Rosa County — Information Required for Septic Applications (2024) · checked 2026-09-24

What state law fixes for every Florida system

900 gallons minimum septic tank capacity

Applies to a home flow of 300 gallons a day or less, three bedrooms or fewer.

This is the floor under the rule's tank-capacity table. The required tank grows as the estimated flow rises. A separate table sets a home's daily flow from its bedroom count and floor area.

Florida Administrative Code, Rule 62-6.008, System Size Determinations, Table II · checked 2026-09-23
75 feet from a private drinking-water well to any part of the system

Applies to a private well for one home, or a shared well for several homes.

A public well needs a wider setback than a private well. The exact distance grows with how much water the public well serves.

Florida Administrative Code, Rule 62-6.005, Location and Installation · checked 2026-09-23
5 feet from any property line

The same five feet keeps a system off building walls and pool walls. It can sit closer to a shared utility easement with no buried line.

Florida Administrative Code, Rule 62-6.005, Location and Installation · checked 2026-09-23

What Santa Rosa County requires that the state does not

Santa Rosa requires a septic permit. This applies when sewer service does not reach the lot.

State law sets this same rule for the whole state. It is not unique to Santa Rosa.

Santa Rosa County Government — Septic Tanks · checked 2026-09-24
Santa Rosa County requires central sewer, not septic, for new subdivisions in Garcon Point and south of East River. This applies to a home built there and to a job of 750 gallons a day or more.

The county allows an exception for extreme hardship. Its Land Development Code defines that term. The state septic rule sets no such area-wide sewer rule.

Santa Rosa County 2040 Comprehensive Plan — Policy Document, Infrastructure Element, Policy 4.1.B.6 · checked 2026-09-24
Santa Rosa County bans a septic system in a wetland area. The county or state health office may still allow one.

A health department may still allow a system in a wetland area. This is the county's own land-use policy, not the state's septic siting rule.

Santa Rosa County 2040 Comprehensive Plan — Policy Document, Conservation Element, Policy 6.1.A.10 · checked 2026-09-24

Where do you file the application with Florida Department of Health in Santa Rosa County, Environmental Public Health?

Florida Department of Health in Santa Rosa County, Environmental Public Health, 5505 Stewart St., Milton, FL 32570, 850-983-5275.

This office serves Santa Rosa County, from Milton.

Florida Department of Health in Santa Rosa County — Onsite Sewage Disposal · checked 2026-09-24

The steps, in the county's order

Confirm that sewer service is not available. Santa Rosa denies a septic permit where sewer already reaches the lot.
Clear the septic system area on the lot. Clear a path to it for equipment.
Submit a plot plan for the system. Draw it to scale, and sign and date it.
Submit a copy of the septic permit with the building plans, for a new house.

Florida Department of Health in Santa Rosa County — Information Required for Septic Applications (2024) · checked 2026-09-24

How do you get a copy of your septic permit record in Santa Rosa County?

Ask Florida Department of Health in Santa Rosa County, Environmental Public Health for the permit record for the property. Call 850-983-5275 or start at its website.