Soil and perc tests in Santa Rosa County, Florida

USDA rates most of the soil in Santa Rosa County Very limited for septic absorption fields — 67.1% of the rated acres. Florida law requires a check of the soil, the water table and the slope before the state issues a permit. USDA NRCS Soil Data Access (SSURGO) · checked 2026-09-24

Very limited

USDA rating, 67.1% of rated acres

checked 2026-09-24

Slow water movement

Most common limiting reason

checked 2026-09-24

Yes

Site evaluation required

checked 2026-09-23

What is a perc test and does Santa Rosa County require one?

Yes. Florida law requires a check of the soil, the water table and the slope before the state issues a 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 Santa Rosa County

Very limited across most of the county — 67.1% of the rated acres. A rating describes the ground, not a parcel. The county's site evaluation decides each lot.

Very limited — 433,585 acres — 67.1% of 646,471 rated acres.
Somewhat limited — 210,084 acres — 32.5% of 646,471 rated acres.
Not limited — 2,802 acres — 0.4% of 646,471 rated acres.
Not rated — 84,929 acres, excluded from the denominator — mostly urban land and water.

67.1% of 646,471 rated acres. 84,929 acres unrated. Survey area FL113 version 22, established 2025-08-27.

USDA NRCS Soil Data Access (SSURGO) · checked 2026-09-24

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.

Slow water movement — 475,003 acres. Reasons overlap — a component can carry several — so these acres exceed rated acres.
Depth to saturated zone — 329,029 acres. Reasons overlap — a component can carry several — so these acres exceed rated acres.
Seepage, bottom layer — 244,097 acres. Reasons overlap — a component can carry several — so these acres exceed rated acres.
Filtering capacity — 153,158 acres. Reasons overlap — a component can carry several — so these acres exceed rated acres.
Flooding — 129,615 acres. Reasons overlap — a component can carry several — so these acres exceed rated acres.
Ponding — 47,907 acres. Reasons overlap — a component can carry several — so these acres exceed rated acres.
Slope — 37,712 acres. Reasons overlap — a component can carry several — so these acres exceed rated acres.
Subsidence — 9,306 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.

44 — Troup loamy sand, 0 to 5 percent slopes — 112,530 acres in this county — rated Somewhat limited. Dominant component: Troup (85% of the map unit).
21 — Lakeland sand, 0 to 5 percent slopes — 95,390 acres in this county — rated Very limited. Dominant component: Lakeland (80% of the map unit).
100 — Waters of the Gulf of America — 75,070 acres in this county — rated Not rated. Dominant component: Waters of the Gulf of America (100% of the map unit).
3 — Bibb-Kinston association — 51,450 acres in this county — rated Very limited. Dominant component: Bibb (50% of the map unit).
9 — Dothan fine sandy loam, 2 to 5 percent slopes — 48,870 acres in this county — rated Very limited. Dominant component: Dothan (83% of the map unit).
5 — Bonifay loamy sand, 0 to 5 percent slopes — 27,610 acres in this county — rated Very limited. Dominant component: Bonifay (80% of the map unit).
47 — Troup-Orangeburg-Cowarts complex, 5 to 12 percent slopes — 25,570 acres in this county — rated Somewhat limited. Dominant component: Troup (39% of the map unit).
25 — Lucy loamy sand, 0 to 5 percent slopes — 23,300 acres in this county — rated Somewhat limited. Dominant component: Lucy (85% of the map unit).

USDA NRCS Soil Data Access (SSURGO) · checked 2026-09-24

Sources

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

Florida Department of Health in Santa Rosa County — Onsite Sewage Disposal · checked 2026-09-24
Florida Department of Health in Santa Rosa County — Environmental Public Health (Location) · checked 2026-09-24
Santa Rosa County Government — Septic Tanks · checked 2026-09-24
Santa Rosa County 2040 Comprehensive Plan — Policy Document, Infrastructure Element, Policy 4.1.B.6 · checked 2026-09-24
Florida Department of Health in Santa Rosa County — Information Required for Septic Applications (2024) · checked 2026-09-24
Florida Administrative Code, Rule 62-6.004, Application for System Construction Permit · checked 2026-09-23
USDA NRCS Soil Data Access (SSURGO) · checked 2026-09-24

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 Santa Rosa County, Environmental Public Health, on 850-983-5275.