Soil and perc tests in Brunswick County, North Carolina

USDA rates most of the soil in Brunswick County Very limited for septic absorption fields — 94.7% of the rated acres. No USDA NRCS Soil Data Access (SSURGO) · checked 2026-09-24

Very limited

USDA rating, 94.7% of rated acres

checked 2026-09-24

Depth to saturated zone

Most common limiting reason

checked 2026-09-24

Yes

Site evaluation required

checked 2026-09-23

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

15A NCAC 18E .0501 evaluates soil morphology at the site. The rule does not require a percolation test.

N.C. Department of Health and Human Services — On-Site Water Protection · checked 2026-09-23

How USDA rates the ground in Brunswick County

Very limited across most of the county — 94.7% of the rated acres. A rating describes the ground, not a parcel. The county's site evaluation decides each lot.

Very limited — 464,212 acres — 94.7% of 490,050 rated acres.
Somewhat limited — 25,838 acres — 5.3% of 490,050 rated acres.
Not rated — 26,637 acres, excluded from the denominator — mostly urban land and water.

94.7% of 490,050 rated acres. 26,637 acres unrated. Survey area NC019 version 30, established 2025-09-02.

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.

Depth to saturated zone — 465,806 acres. Reasons overlap — a component can carry several — so these acres exceed rated acres.
Seepage, bottom layer — 325,167 acres. Reasons overlap — a component can carry several — so these acres exceed rated acres.
Slow water movement — 260,672 acres. Reasons overlap — a component can carry several — so these acres exceed rated acres.
Flooding — 104,941 acres. Reasons overlap — a component can carry several — so these acres exceed rated acres.
Ponding — 83,984 acres. Reasons overlap — a component can carry several — so these acres exceed rated acres.
Subsidence — 38,013 acres. Reasons overlap — a component can carry several — so these acres exceed rated acres.
Filtering capacity — 35,984 acres. Reasons overlap — a component can carry several — so these acres exceed rated acres.
Slope — 12,908 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.

BaB — Baymeade fine sand, 1 to 6 percent slopes — 54,752 acres in this county — rated Very limited. Dominant component: Baymeade (90% of the map unit).
Lo — Leon fine sand — 49,636 acres in this county — rated Very limited. Dominant component: Leon (80% of the map unit).
To — Torhunta mucky fine sandy loam — 48,740 acres in this county — rated Very limited. Dominant component: Torhunta (80% of the map unit).
Mu — Murville mucky fine sand — 39,054 acres in this county — rated Very limited. Dominant component: Murville (80% of the map unit).
Wo — Woodington fine sandy loam — 34,625 acres in this county — rated Very limited. Dominant component: Woodington (80% of the map unit).
Fo — Foreston loamy fine sand — 31,452 acres in this county — rated Very limited. Dominant component: Foreston (80% of the map unit).
GoA — Goldsboro fine sandy loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes — 30,480 acres in this county — rated Very limited. Dominant component: Goldsboro (87% of the map unit).
CT — Croatan muck, ponded, 0 to 2 percent slopes — 28,479 acres in this county — rated Very limited. Dominant component: Croatan (87% 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.

Brunswick County Environmental Health · checked 2026-09-24
Brunswick County — Check List for Septic/Well Permit · checked 2026-09-24
Brunswick County Environmental Health Fee Schedule, Fiscal Year 2026-2027 · checked 2026-09-24
N.C. Department of Health and Human Services — On-Site Water Protection · checked 2026-09-23
Brunswick County — On-Site Wastewater Permitting Options · checked 2026-09-24
Guilford County — On-site Wastewater · 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 Brunswick County Environmental Health, on 910-253-2150.