Soil and perc tests in Volusia County, Florida

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

Not required

Florida grades the soil instead of timing a percolation test. An evaluator checks soil texture and depth under the rule. A timed test is allowed only as one alternate method.

Florida Administrative Code, Rule 62-6.006, Site Evaluation Criteria · checked 2026-09-23

How USDA rates the ground in Volusia County

Very limited across most of the county — 97.3% of the rated acres. A rating describes the ground, not a parcel. The county's site evaluation decides each lot.

• Very limited — 678,315 acres — 97.3% of 697,083 rated acres.
• Somewhat limited — 18,768 acres — 2.7% of 697,083 rated acres.
• Not rated — 112,417 acres, excluded from the denominator — mostly urban land and water.

97.3% of 697,083 rated acres. 112,417 acres unrated. Survey area FL127 version 24, established 2025-08-28.

USDA NRCS Soil Data Access (SSURGO) · checked 2026-09-23

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.

• Depth to saturated zone — 603,620 acres. Reasons overlap — a component can carry several — so these acres exceed rated acres.
• Seepage, bottom layer — 568,122 acres. Reasons overlap — a component can carry several — so these acres exceed rated acres.
• Filtering capacity — 249,194 acres. Reasons overlap — a component can carry several — so these acres exceed rated acres.
• Slow water movement — 232,727 acres. Reasons overlap — a component can carry several — so these acres exceed rated acres.
• Ponding — 231,282 acres. Reasons overlap — a component can carry several — so these acres exceed rated acres.
• Subsidence — 103,816 acres. Reasons overlap — a component can carry several — so these acres exceed rated acres.
• Flooding — 44,180 acres. Reasons overlap — a component can carry several — so these acres exceed rated acres.
• Depth to bedrock — 4,720 acres. Reasons overlap — a component can carry several — so these acres exceed rated acres.
• Slope — 2,393 acres. Reasons overlap — a component can carry several — so these acres exceed rated acres.
• Depth to cemented pan — 232 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 — 85,685 acres in this county — rated Not rated. Dominant component: Water (100% of the map unit).
• 32 — Myakka-Myakka, wet, fine sands, 0 to 2 percent slopes — 52,860 acres in this county — rated Very limited. Dominant component: Myakka (70% of the map unit).
• 49 — Pomona fine sand — 51,410 acres in this county — rated Very limited. Dominant component: Pomona (70% of the map unit).
• 56 — Samsula muck, frequently ponded, 0 to 1 percent slopes — 42,735 acres in this county — rated Very limited. Dominant component: Samsula (85% of the map unit).
• 4 — Astatula fine sand, 0 to 8 percent slopes — 38,620 acres in this county — rated Very limited. Dominant component: Astatula (85% of the map unit).
• 29 — Immokalee sand — 34,220 acres in this county — rated Very limited. Dominant component: Immokalee (65% of the map unit).
• 60 — Smyrna-Smyrna, wet, fine sand, 0 to 2 percent slopes — 30,820 acres in this county — rated Very limited. Dominant component: Smyrna (76% of the map unit).
• 65 — Terra Ceia muck, frequently ponded, 0 to 1 percent slopes — 28,070 acres in this county — rated Very limited. Dominant component: Terra Ceia (80% of the map unit).

USDA NRCS Soil Data Access (SSURGO) · checked 2026-09-23

Sources

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

1. Florida Department of Health in Volusia County · checked 2026-09-23
2. Florida Department of Health in Volusia County · checked 2026-09-23
3. Volusia County Comprehensive Plan, Sanitary Sewer Element, Policy 6.1.1.14 · checked 2026-09-23
4. Volusia County Land Development Regulations, Sec. 72-1102, Indian River Lagoon Overlay Zone · checked 2026-09-23
5. Florida Administrative Code, Rule 62-6.030, Fees · checked 2026-09-23
6. Florida Department of Environmental Protection — Onsite Sewage FAQ, Permitting · checked 2026-09-23
7. USDA NRCS Soil Data Access (SSURGO) · checked 2026-09-23

Related pages

• Septic rules and requirements in Volusia County, Florida
• Septic permits and fees in Volusia County, Florida
• Septic rules and requirements in Florida
• Septic rules in Volusia County