Soil and perc tests in Moore County, North Carolina

USDA rates most of the soil in Moore County Very limited for septic absorption fields — 59.5% of the rated acres. No USDA NRCS Soil Data Access (SSURGO) · checked 2026-09-24

Very limited

USDA rating, 59.5% 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 Moore County require one?

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 Moore County

Very limited across most of the county — 59.5% of the rated acres. A rating describes the ground, not a parcel. The county's site evaluation decides each lot.

Very limited — 238,534 acres — 59.5% of 400,624 rated acres.
Somewhat limited — 162,090 acres — 40.5% of 400,624 rated acres.
Not rated — 9,649 acres, excluded from the denominator — mostly urban land and water.

59.5% of 400,624 rated acres. 9,649 acres unrated. Survey area NC125 version 28, 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 — 353,684 acres. Reasons overlap — a component can carry several — so these acres exceed rated acres.
Slope — 156,073 acres. Reasons overlap — a component can carry several — so these acres exceed rated acres.
Depth to saturated zone — 115,539 acres. Reasons overlap — a component can carry several — so these acres exceed rated acres.
Seepage, bottom layer — 112,054 acres. Reasons overlap — a component can carry several — so these acres exceed rated acres.
Depth to bedrock — 99,421 acres. Reasons overlap — a component can carry several — so these acres exceed rated acres.
Flooding — 48,866 acres. Reasons overlap — a component can carry several — so these acres exceed rated acres.
Ponding — 4,114 acres. Reasons overlap — a component can carry several — so these acres exceed rated acres.
Filtering capacity — 650 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.

CaB — Candor sand, 0 to 4 percent slopes — 50,266 acres in this county — rated Somewhat limited. Dominant component: Candor (90% of the map unit).
AeD — Ailey loamy sand, 8 to 15 percent slopes — 37,863 acres in this county — rated Very limited. Dominant component: Ailey (85% of the map unit).
VaD — Vaucluse loamy sand, 8 to 15 percent slopes — 28,790 acres in this county — rated Very limited. Dominant component: Vaucluse (80% of the map unit).
AeB — Ailey loamy sand, 2 to 8 percent slopes — 25,893 acres in this county — rated Very limited. Dominant component: Ailey (85% of the map unit).
NaD — Nanford silt loam, 8 to 15 percent slopes — 25,438 acres in this county — rated Somewhat limited. Dominant component: Nanford (85% of the map unit).
GeB — Georgeville gravelly silt loam, 2 to 8 percent slopes — 21,160 acres in this county — rated Somewhat limited. Dominant component: Georgeville (100% of the map unit).
NaB — Nanford silt loam, 2 to 8 percent slopes — 20,584 acres in this county — rated Somewhat limited. Dominant component: Nanford (85% of the map unit).
CaC — Candor sand, 4 to 12 percent slopes — 20,493 acres in this county — rated Somewhat limited. Dominant component: Candor (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.

Moore County — Environmental Health · checked 2026-09-24
Moore County — Septic / Wells · checked 2026-09-24
Moore County Environmental Health — Fee Schedule (FY 2025/2026) · checked 2026-09-24
N.C. Department of Health and Human Services — On-Site Water Protection · checked 2026-09-23
Moore County Environmental Health — Application for Improvement Permit and/or Construction Authorization · 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 Environmental Health, on 910-947-6283.