Marion County Septic Guide: DEP Permits & Springs (2026)

Updated October 25, 2026. This guide is general information, not legal or engineering advice. Rules change, so confirm with the agency listed before you start work.

Quick reference

Topic	What to know	Source
Homes on septic	Almost 90,000 in Marion County	Marion County
Permitting agency	Florida DEP, Onsite Sewage Program, since July 2025	Florida DEP
How to apply	DEP online portal (ostds.floridadep.gov); site evaluation by DEP or a private qualified evaluator	Florida DEP
Contractors	Septic tank contractors must be registered; DEP runs registration	Fla. Stat. 489.552; Florida DEP
Pumping	Every 3 to 5 years; inspect at least every 3 years	UF/IFAS
Springs rule, new systems	Lots of one acre or less in springs BMAP areas, no sewer: nitrogen-reducing system required	Florida DEP
Springs rule, existing systems	In Priority Focus Areas, a repair or modification permit can require sewer connection or an upgrade	Florida DEP

Who issues septic permits in Marion County?

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Florida's Onsite Sewage Program moved from the Department of Health to DEP under an interagency agreement effective July 1, 2021, but at first county health department staff kept doing the day-to-day permitting. DEP began permitting directly in 16 Northwest Florida counties in January 2025 and brought Marion County online in July 2025. DEP's permitting page lists Marion as one of 17 counties where it now issues permits; most other Florida counties remain with the Department of Health for now.

To apply, DEP asks for its application form and site plan, a copy of the building's floor plan, and a site evaluation, which DEP can perform or a private qualified site evaluator can complete before you apply. Applications can be submitted through DEP's online portal or by mail.

Who can work on a septic system?

Florida law says a person may not present themselves as a septic tank contractor or master septic tank contractor without being registered. DEP's registration page says applicants need at least three years and 6,000 hours of experience and a criminal history check, registrations expire every September 30, and renewal requires at least 12 hours of approved continuing education a year (18 for master contractors). Ask any company for its registration before work starts.

Why do the springs matter for my septic system?

Silver Springs and Rainbow Springs are two of the Outstanding Florida Springs the Legislature singled out for protection in 2016, and both are in Marion County. Under that law, when septic systems contribute more than 20 percent of the nitrogen load in a springshed, the restoration plan (called a BMAP) must include a septic remediation plan. Marion County says both springs meet or exceed that threshold. Reporting on the 2018 plan, the Ocala Gazette noted septic systems accounted for 29 percent of the nitrogen load in the Silver Springs springshed and 20 percent for Rainbow Springs.

What do the springs rules require?

New systems. DEP says that since HB 1379 took effect in 2023, new septic systems in springs BMAP areas on lots of one acre or less, where sewer isn't available, must be enhanced nutrient-reducing systems rather than conventional ones.
Existing systems in Priority Focus Areas. When a repair or modification permit is required, DEP says the owner must connect to sewer if available, repair or modify the system if sewer is coming, or upgrade to a nitrogen-reducing system. Where a BMAP-specific policy applies, upgrades are due no later than 20 years after the BMAP was adopted.
Maintenance. Aerobic treatment units and performance-based systems need a maintenance contract and an operating permit.

You can check whether a property is in a Priority Focus Area on DEP's map at FloridaDEP.gov/PFAMap.

Is my area being converted to sewer?

Marion County approved a septic-to-sewer program in April 2022 for designated areas of unincorporated Marion County, with Silver Springs Shores as the initial focus. It doesn't cover the cities of Ocala, Belleview or Dunnellon. Owners get written notices before service is available and then have 365 days to connect under section 381.00655 of Florida Statutes.

How should I care for my system?

UF/IFAS Extension recommends pumping every three to five years, an inspection at least every three years, and flushing only human waste and toilet paper. Before a forecast hurricane, conserve water so the drainfield doesn't saturate. After flooding, don't pump the tank until the water recedes, because a tank emptied in saturated ground can float out, and have the system inspected before normal use.

Questions to ask a septic company

Are you registered with the state, and can I see the registration?
Does this job need a DEP permit, and will you apply for it?
Is my property in a springs Priority Focus Area, and does that change the repair?
What did you find in the tank, and when should it be pumped again?
What's warrantied, and for how long?

Common questions

Who issues septic permits in Marion County, Florida?

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection's Onsite Sewage Program, which took over permitting in Marion County in July 2025.

Do I need a nitrogen-reducing septic system in Marion County?

For a new system on a lot of one acre or less in a springs restoration area without sewer, yes. Existing systems in Priority Focus Areas may need an upgrade when a repair permit is required.

How often should a septic tank be pumped in Florida?

UF/IFAS Extension recommends every three to five years, depending on household size and water use.

Marion County septic guide (2026)