Soil and perc tests in Livingston County, Michigan

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

Yes. The county requires an approved soil evaluation before you apply for a permit.

Livingston County, Soil Evaluation · checked 2026-10-05

How USDA rates the ground in Livingston County

Very limited across most of the county — 98.1% of the rated acres. A rating describes the ground, not a parcel. The county's site evaluation decides each lot.

• Very limited — 351,692 acres — 98.1% of 358,455 rated acres.
• Somewhat limited — 6,763 acres — 1.9% of 358,455 rated acres.
• Not rated — 16,156 acres, excluded from the denominator — mostly urban land and water.

98.1% of 358,455 rated acres. 16,156 acres unrated. Survey area MI093 version 24, established 2026-08-27.

USDA NRCS Soil Data Access (SSURGO) · checked 2026-10-05

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 — 320,401 acres. Reasons overlap — a component can carry several — so these acres exceed rated acres.
• Seepage, bottom layer — 148,992 acres. Reasons overlap — a component can carry several — so these acres exceed rated acres.
• Depth to saturated zone — 137,576 acres. Reasons overlap — a component can carry several — so these acres exceed rated acres.
• Ponding — 91,022 acres. Reasons overlap — a component can carry several — so these acres exceed rated acres.
• Slope — 82,411 acres. Reasons overlap — a component can carry several — so these acres exceed rated acres.
• Subsidence — 48,825 acres. Reasons overlap — a component can carry several — so these acres exceed rated acres.
• Filtering capacity — 30,120 acres. Reasons overlap — a component can carry several — so these acres exceed rated acres.
• Flooding — 1,934 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.

• MoB — Wawasee loam, 2 to 6 percent slopes — 35,784 acres in this county — rated Very limited. Dominant component: Wawasee (90% of the map unit).
• CarabA — Carlisle muck, 0 to 2 percent slopes — 33,998 acres in this county — rated Very limited. Dominant component: Carlisle (90% of the map unit).
• MoA — Wawasee loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes — 17,068 acres in this county — rated Very limited. Dominant component: Wawasee (90% of the map unit).
• CvraaB — Conover loam, 0 to 4 percent slopes — 16,735 acres in this county — rated Very limited. Dominant component: Conover (85% of the map unit).
• MoC — Wawasee loam, 6 to 12 percent slopes — 13,796 acres in this county — rated Very limited. Dominant component: Wawasee (90% of the map unit).
• W — Water — 12,872 acres in this county — rated Not rated. Dominant component: Water (100% of the map unit).
• OmB — Owosso-Miami sandy loams, 2 to 6 percent slopes — 12,537 acres in this county — rated Very limited. Dominant component: Owosso (50% of the map unit).
• HgtahA — Houghton muck, 0 to 1 percent slopes — 10,248 acres in this county — rated Very limited. Dominant component: Houghton (90% of the map unit).

USDA NRCS Soil Data Access (SSURGO) · checked 2026-10-05

Sources

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

1. Livingston County Health Department, Well and Septic Permit Application · checked 2026-10-05
2. Livingston County, Septic Permits · checked 2026-10-05
3. Livingston County, Septic Services · checked 2026-10-05
4. Livingston County Sanitary Code, Section 301.07 · checked 2026-10-05
5. Livingston County, Environmental Health Fee Schedule · checked 2026-10-05
6. Livingston County, Soil Evaluation · checked 2026-10-05
7. USDA NRCS Soil Data Access (SSURGO) · checked 2026-10-05

Related pages

• Septic rules and requirements in Livingston County, Michigan
• Septic permits and fees in Livingston County, Michigan
• Septic rules and requirements in Michigan
• Septic rules in Livingston County