Somewhat limited
USDA rating, 55.9% of rated acres
checked 2026-10-06
Slow water movement
Most common limiting reason
checked 2026-10-06
Yes
Site evaluation required
checked 2026-09-23
How USDA rates the ground in Gaston County
Somewhat limited across most of the county
— 55.9% of the rated acres.
A rating describes the ground, not a parcel. The county's site evaluation decides each lot.
- Somewhat limited — 110,753 acres — 55.9% of 198,150 rated acres.
- Very limited — 87,397 acres — 44.1% of 198,150 rated acres.
- Not rated — 17,624 acres, excluded from the denominator — mostly urban land and water.
55.9% of 198,150 rated acres. 17,624 acres unrated. Survey area NC071 version 27, established 2026-08-28.
USDA NRCS Soil Data Access (SSURGO) · checked 2026-10-06
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 — 190,587 acres. Reasons overlap — a component can carry several — so these acres exceed rated acres.
- Slope — 80,010 acres. Reasons overlap — a component can carry several — so these acres exceed rated acres.
- Depth to bedrock — 38,342 acres. Reasons overlap — a component can carry several — so these acres exceed rated acres.
- Seepage, bottom layer — 24,093 acres. Reasons overlap — a component can carry several — so these acres exceed rated acres.
- Depth to saturated zone — 21,997 acres. Reasons overlap — a component can carry several — so these acres exceed rated acres.
- Flooding — 17,719 acres. Reasons overlap — a component can carry several — so these acres exceed rated acres.
- Ponding — 738 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.
- CeB2 — Cecil sandy clay loam, 2 to 8 percent slopes, moderately eroded — 32,430 acres in this county — rated Somewhat limited. Dominant component: Cecil (88% of the map unit).
- CfB — Cecil-Urban land complex, 2 to 8 percent slopes — 20,505 acres in this county — rated Somewhat limited. Dominant component: Cecil (50% of the map unit).
- LdB2 — Lloyd sandy clay loam, 2 to 8 percent slopes, moderately eroded — 18,325 acres in this county — rated Somewhat limited. Dominant component: Lloyd (90% of the map unit).
- ChA — Chewacla loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes, frequently flooded — 14,755 acres in this county — rated Very limited. Dominant component: Chewacla (80% of the map unit).
- TaB — Tatum gravelly loam, 2 to 8 percent slopes — 13,620 acres in this county — rated Somewhat limited. Dominant component: Tatum (85% of the map unit).
- PaE — Pacolet sandy loam, 15 to 25 percent slopes — 13,525 acres in this county — rated Very limited. Dominant component: Pacolet (90% of the map unit).
- TaD — Tatum gravelly loam, 8 to 15 percent slopes — 11,000 acres in this county — rated Somewhat limited. Dominant component: Tatum (85% of the map unit).
- MaB2 — Madison sandy clay loam, 2 to 8 percent slopes, moderately eroded — 9,071 acres in this county — rated Very limited. Dominant component: Madison (85% of the map unit).
USDA NRCS Soil Data Access (SSURGO) · checked 2026-10-06
Verify before you act. Septic rules are set locally and they change. Check anything
here before you spend money on it. Call the Gaston County Environmental Health, on 704-853-5000.