SEPTIC TANK SYSTEMS

Jacksonville Ordinance Code tit. XIII, ch. 470, pt. 3

in effect

Jacksonville Ordinance Code § 470.301 When authorized.

Sec. 470.301. - When authorized. A septic tank system may be used for the disposal of sewage waste only if all of the following conditions are met: (a) No sanitary sewer of a sewerage system is available in an easement or right-of-way abutting the property or within 100 feet of the property. (b) Either: (1) The soil is replaced by a soil absorption bed meeting the standards of this Chapter; or (2) Soil on the premises has characteristics meeting the standards of satisfactory quality in this subsection from the surface to a depth of six feet and is free of impervious soil such as clay, muck, hardpan, silt, marl, rock and other unsuitable materials. The following soil classifications are a part of the United States Soil Classifications System adopted by the United States Corps of Engineers and Bureau of Reclamation in January 1962: Group Symbol | Characteristics of Soil Group Satisfactory GW | Well-graded gravels, gravel-sand mixtures, little or no fines GP | Poorly graded gravels or gravel-sand mixtures, little or no fines SW | Well-graded sands, gravelly sands, little or no fines SP | Poorly graded sands or gravelly sands, little or no fines Doubtful GM | Silty gravels, gravel-sand-silt mixtures GC | Clayey gravels, gravel-sand-clay mixtures SM | Silty sand, sand-silt mixtures SC | Clayey sands, sand-clay mixtures ML | Inorganic silts and very fine sands, rock flour, silty or clayey fine sands or clayey silts with slight plasticity CL | Inorganic clays of low to medium plasticity, gravelly clays, sandy clays, silt clay, lean clays OL | Organic silts and organic silty clays of low plasticity MH | Inorganic silts, micaceous or diatomaceous fine sandy or silty soils, elastic silts Unsatisfactory CH | Inorganic clays of high plasticity, fat clays OH | Organic clays of medium to high plasticity, organic silts PT | Peat and other highly organic soils Soils classified as satisfactory meet the standards of this subsection. Soils classified as doubtful may be either approved or disapproved by the Director as meeting the standards of this subsection, based upon a consideration of the other standards provided in this Chapter and other on-site conditions. Soils classified as unsatisfactory do not meet the standards of this subsection. (c) Ground water table elevation on the premises, during the wettest season of the year, is at least 36 inches below the finished grade of the building site. (d) The percolation test rate does not exceed 15 minutes per inch. (e) The premises are not subject to flooding. (f) The septic tank system can be located so that no part of it is: (1) Laterally within 75 feet of any individual water supply well or within 100 feet of any public water supply well. (2) Where ground slope permits, at a higher elevation than water supply wells in the vicinity. (3) Within 50 feet of the high waterline of lakes, streams, canals or other bodies of water. (4) On a filled lot, unless the lot has been thoroughly and mechanically compacted, or allowed to settle for at least six months. (5) In a low swampy area with a high water table, whether permanent, fluctuating or seasonal. (6) Under a building or within five feet of it. (7) Within ten feet of a water supply pipeline. (8) Within five feet of a property line. (g) No part of the absorption area is located under a paved area. (h) The minimum available land area for a replacement absorption area, no part of which is located within the areas described in subsection (f) of this Section, is: (1) For residences and multiple dwellings, 150 square feet per bedroom. (2) For other land uses, two times the required absorption area. (i) The septic tank system can be located so that no part of any other septic tank system is located closer to it than 50 feet. For this purpose there shall be disregarded: (1) All septic tank systems installed before December 1, 1970. (2) Relocation of an absorption area on the premises of its original location. (Ord. 70-650-526; Ord. 71-435-150, § 2; Ord. 71-397-181; Ord. 78-1109-607, § 1; Ord. 83-591-400, § 1)

Jacksonville Ordinance Code § 470.302 Certificate of eligibility.

Sec. 470.302. - Certificate of eligibility. Any person may apply in writing to the Director for a determination that a particular parcel of land is or is not eligible for septic tank system use. The Director shall inquire into the relevant considerations under this Chapter, and if he determines that the property is eligible, shall issue a certificate of eligibility, stating thereon such terms and conditions as are necessary to comply with this Chapter. After issuance, the Director shall be required to issue a septic tank installation permit for the property upon application within six months and compliance with the terms and conditions of the certificate of eligibility and other requirements of this Chapter. (Ord. 70-650-526; Ord. 71-397-181; Ord. 83-591-400, § 1)

Jacksonville Ordinance Code § 470.303 Septic tank installation permit.

Sec. 470.303. - Septic tank installation permit. (a) No person shall dispose of sewage waste into a septic tank system if either the system or the act of disposal violates any provision of this Chapter. No person shall install a septic tank system on premises without an installation permit issued by the Director. Permits shall be issued under the provisions and subject to the conditions of the Health Code. (b) Applications for permits to install septic tank systems may be considered on an individual premises basis or on a multiple premises basis, as in the case of subdivision development. The issuance of permits for one or a group of septic tank systems on premises does not imply approval of any application for a septic tank system installation on adjacent premises or premises in the surrounding neighborhood. Approval will be granted or denied on the basis of the facts then pending before the Director. Whenever overcrowding of individual septic tank units results in inability by a subsequent applicant to meet a standard of this Chapter, the Director shall deny the subsequent application for an installation permit. (c) In addition to other information required, an applicant for an installation permit under this Part shall submit the following data: (1) The acceptance or nonacceptance of the suitability of the lot and premises for a septic tank system determined by the Health Division from results of a percolation test and a soil log test. In the event of an appeal of the decision of acceptance or nonacceptance by the Health Division as provided in Section 460.209, the applicant shall bear the costs of any expert witness he may choose to employ, both for services and testimony. (2) A plan, sketch or drawing showing the dimensions of the property, with the space allocated to, and the location of, all existing mobile homes, buildings, water wells, septic tanks and drain fields, the slope of the property, the proposed and existing drainage facilities, the water level and the location of all bodies of water. (3) If the application is for permits for a subdivision of six or more lots, the information on the Director's subdivision analysis form and the following information: (i) A plan of the subdivision drawn to scale, showing lot and block arrangements and dimensions, with all lots and blocks numbered; (ii) Topographic map with contour interval, disclosing bodies of water, low, wet and marshy land, and lots on which fill will be placed; (iii) A general site location map for reference identification of the area; (iv) Proposed City drainage plans, if any; (v) The results of a percolation test and a soil log test to a minimum depth of six feet, made on a representative number of lots in the area of the drain fields; (vi) A designation of lots containing dense, impervious material; (vii) A cross section of the method of planned development disclosing the building floor level, the top of the septic tank, and the invert of the drain field expressed in inches above or below the final finished grade; (viii) The center line elevations of the nearest road; and (ix) The finished grade of each lot. (d) The Director shall review the application, evaluate the data submitted, determine whether the proposed septic tank system will comply with this Chapter, and issue or deny the permit within 30 days after the filing of the application. (e) On completion of installation of the septic tank system and before covering it with earth or other material, and before placing it into service, the installer shall make the installation available for inspection by the Director and shall bring the system into compliance with this Chapter before loading, covering and placing it in service. (f) An installation permit becomes void 12 months after its date of issuance unless installation of a septic tank system authorized by the permit has commenced. (Ord. 70-650-526; Ord. 70-1292-571, § 3; Ord. 71-435-150, § 3; Ord. 71-397-181; Ord. 75-826-341, § 1; Ord. 83-591-400, § 1)

Jacksonville Ordinance Code § 470.304 Location and installation of septic tank systems.

Sec. 470.304. - Location and installation of septic tank systems. Every septic tank system shall be located and installed: (a) In compliance with the conditions of Section 470.301. (b) In compliance with the application and permit. (c) In compliance with the construction standards of this Part. (d) In such a manner that, with reasonable maintenance, it will function in a sanitary manner. (Ord. 70-650-526; Ord. 71-197-181; Ord. 83-591-400, § 1)

Jacksonville Ordinance Code § 470.305 Septic tank system construction standards.

Sec. 470.305. - Septic tank system construction standards. Every septic tank system installed subject to this Chapter shall meet the following construction standards: (a) The septic tank shall be rectangular in shape with an inside length between two and three times the inside width. (b) The septic tank shall be watertight and free of voids or pits, shall have reasonably straight, plumbed wall, and shall be constructed from: (1) Concrete, either precast with adequate steel reinforcing to facilitate handling, or poured in place, designed by mix and water-cement ratio for a unit compressive strength of 3,000 per square inch after 28 days of curing. (2) With the approval of the Director, concrete block with a concrete bottom, plastered inside with cement mortar and with walls at least eight inches thick. (3) With the approval of the Director, other materials having substantially the same construction characteristics, taking into consideration the intended use of the septic tank. (c) The septic tank shall have the following minimum wall and bottom thickness: (1) If made from precast concrete: (i) Two inches, if the septic tank has a capacity of 1200 gallons or less. (ii) Three inches, if the septic tank has a capacity of more than 1200 gallons. (2) If made of concrete poured in place, four inches. (d) The septic tank top shall be reinforced with three-eighths-inch reinforcing steel rods on six-inch centers in each direction. A one-piece top shall have a 22-inch manhole over the inlet and outlet of the septic tank. A precast top in sections shall have the end sections over the inlet and outlet approximately 24 inches in width. The tank shall have a concrete top with a minimum thickness of: (1) If the tank has a capacity of 1200 gallons or less: (i) Three inches, if precast. (ii) Four inches if poured in place. (2) If the tank has a capacity of more than 1200 gallons, four inches. (e) The inlet and outlet shall be at opposite ends of the septic tank and shall be provided with tees extending five inches above and 18 inches below the liquid level line. The Director shall approve baffles in lieu of tees. The invert of the inlet and outlet shall be at the same elevation. (f) The effective depth of the septic tank shall be at least four feet and not more than five feet. (g) Ventilation shall be provided to the septic tank through building plumbing vents. (h) The septic tank shall have a minimum freeboard of eight inches if the tank has an effective capacity of 1200 gallons or less, and 12 inches if larger. (i) The bottom of a concrete septic tank shall be monolithic and an integral part of the walls, without any joint or seam. (Ord. 70-650-526; Ord. 71-397-181; Ord. 83-591-400, § 1)

Jacksonville Ordinance Code § 470.306 Septic tank capacity.

Sec. 470.306. - Septic tank capacity. (a) Every septic tank shall have the capacity required in this Section, depending upon the use to which the septic tank system is to be put and upon the daily sewage waste flow. If the septic tank has more than one compartment, the first compartment shall have the required capacity. The required capacities are based upon a 24-hour detention time interval for efficient sedimentation, plus sludge storage volume. The Director may vary the capacity requirements of the Section to take into account actual detention time intervals in individual cases. (b) The effective capacity for a residence and a multiple dwelling shall be based on the number of bedrooms and determined by reference to Table 470-1. This capacity standard contemplates a single system serving the combined household wastes from all flowing fixtures and appliances commonly used in residences, including a food waste grinder, a dishwasher and an automatic clothes washer. (c) The effective capacity for any other building shall be determined by the applicable estimated daily sewage waste flow listed in Table 470-2 or by the actual maximum daily sewage waste flow if it can be reliably measured by metering, and by reference to the following classifications: (1) If the estimated or, if applicable, the actual, daily sewage waste flow is 450 gallons or less, the minimum effective capacity of the septic tank shall be 750 gallons. (2) If the estimated or, if applicable, the actual, daily sewage waste flow is more than 450 gallons, the minimum effective capacity of the septic tank shall be the estimated or actual daily sewage waste flow plus 300 gallons (for sludge storage volume). Table 470-1 Minimum Effective Capacity By Reference to Bedrooms Number of Bedrooms | Minimum Effective Capacity (gallons) 2 or less | 750 3 | 900 4 | 1,050 5 | 1,200 Each additional bedroom, add | 150 Table 470-2 Estimated Daily Sewage Waste Flow Type of Establishment | Gallons Per Day per Person Multiple apartment building (over four units) ..... | 75 Rooming house ..... | 40 Hotel and motel ..... | 50 Restaurant (toilet and kitchen waste per meal served) ..... | 10 Bar and cocktail lounge ..... | 5 Kitchen wastes—restaurant, hotel, boardinghouse, and similar establishment (per meal served) ..... | 3 Tourist camp or trailer park ..... | 50 Resort camp (night and day) with limited plumbing ..... | 50 Luxury camp ..... | 75 Work or construction camp (semi-permanent) ..... | 50 Day school with cafeteria, gym and shower [quantity to be estimated from total (100%) enrollment] ..... | 11.5* Day school without cafeteria, gym or showers ..... | 8.5* Day school with cafeteria but no gym or shower [quantity to be estimated from total (100%) enrollment] ..... | 9.5 Boarding schools ..... | 75 Day workers at schools and offices ..... | 15 Hospitals (per bed) ..... | 150—120 Public institution other than hospital ..... | 75—125 Factories (gallons per person per shift, exclusive of industrial waste): Showers not provided ..... | 15 Showers provided ..... | 35 Public picnic park (toilet wastes only) ..... | 5 Picnic park, with bathhouse, showers and flush toilet ..... | 10 Country club (per resident member) ..... | 100 Country club (per member present) ..... | 25 Drive-in theaters (per car space) ..... | 5 Movie theaters, auditoriums, churches (per seat) ..... | 3 Airports (per passenger) ..... | 5 Stores, without kitchen wastes (per toilet room) ..... | 400 Service stations (per vehicle served) ..... | 10 Bowling alley (toilet wastes only, per lane) ..... | 100 Stadium, frontons, ball parks (per seat) ..... | 3 Self-serve laundries (toilet wastes only, per machine) ..... | 40 *The above values are based on 100 percent of students eating meals and 100 percent of students showering. Whenever cafeteria or shower facilities are provided for the general enrollment the above values shall be used. Where physical conditions are known to exist which will increase or decrease the actual 100 percent use of these facilities (i.e., parent cafeteria preparing meals for other schools, or combined elementary and junior high school where only the junior high students are authorized to shower), the following adjustment factors are authorized: Meals | Showers For each student in excess of 100% of enrollment, add | 1.0 gal. | 2.2 gal. For each student less than 100% of enrollment, subtract | 0.0 gal. | 0.7 gal. NOTE: The quantities of estimated daily sewage waste flow listed in Table 470-2 do not take into account garbage and laundry wastes. If either garbage or laundry waste is discharged into the septic tank system, the minimum sewage waste flow shall be increased by a reasonable amount determined by the Director, based upon the estimated quantity of garbage and laundry wastes discharged into the system. (Ord. 70-650-526; Ord. 71-397-181; Ord. 75-825-341, § 2; Ord. 83-591-400, § 1)

Jacksonville Ordinance Code § 470.307 Absorption field.

Sec. 470.307. - Absorption field. (a) A septic tank system shall be designed so that the effluent or drainage flow from the tank is disposed of in a soil absorption field. The minimum absorption area of the absorption field is 300 square feet or, if greater: (1) For a residence and a multiple dwelling, an area determined by reference to the number of bedrooms, the results of soil and percolation tests and Table 470-3. (2) For any other building, an area determined by reference to the estimated or, if applicable, the actual, daily sewage waste flow, the results of soil and percolation tests and Table 470-4. Table 470-3 Absorption Area Requirements For Residences and Multiple Dwellings Percolation Rate | Absorption Area per Bedroom (square feet) 2 or less | 125 3 | 150 4 | 160 5 | 170 10 | 245 15 | 270 Table 470-4 Absorption Area Requirements For Other Buildings Percolation Rate | Maximum Rate of Sewage Application (gallons per square foot per day) 2 or less | 2.0 3 | 1.7 4 | 1.5 5 | 1.33 10 | 1.0 15 | 0.8 The total sewage application capacity of the absorption area shall equal or exceed the estimated sewage flow. (b) Every absorption field shall comply with the following construction standards: (1) Drain tile shall be installed in filter material of washed and screened gravel, slag, rock or similar approved material of equivalent strength and durability, and shall vary in size from one-half inch to two inches, and shall be free from fines, dust, sand and clay. (2) Filter material shall encase the tile with a minimum depth of six inches under the tile and shall have a total depth, extending throughout the width of the trench, of: (i) If a cradle or block unit is used in the absorption field, at least 14 inches with at least six inches under the unit and eight inches above the bottom on the unit. (ii) Otherwise, at least 12 inches. (3) Filter material in place shall be protected from infiltration of earth backfill by an effective barrier of building paper. (4) The maximum depth from the invert of the drain tile to the finished ground surface shall not exceed 24 inches. Minimum earth cover above the top of the drain tile shall be six inches. (5) Drain tile used in the absorption field shall be at least four inches inside diameter of vitrified clay, with one-quarter-inch open joints between each tile. The Director may approve drain tile constructed of other materials, having substantially the same characteristics, taking into consideration the intended use of the tile. (6) Cradle or block units of optional design for drainfield distributors may be used when approved by the Director and installed as required by this Chapter. (7) Drain lines shall be graded with a downward slope of one-quarter to one-half inch per ten feet, but in no case exceeding six inches per 100 feet. (8) Laterals shall not exceed 100 feet in length. If two or more laterals are used, they shall be as close to the same length as practicable, and they may be connected to produce a contiguous system. (9) The width of the trench at the bottom for drain tile shall be not less than 12 inches or more than 24 inches. If cradle or block units are used, the maximum width of the trench shall be 48 inches. (10) The minimum distance between the center line of any two adjoining trenches shall be six feet, if the trench width is 12 to 24 inches, and eight feet for block or cradle units. (11) Any replaced or relaid drain field shall be not less than 208 square feet in size and shall contain not less than three lines of tile unless, due to a space limitation, an exception to these requirements is granted by the Director. (Ord. 70-650-526; Ord. 71-435-150, §§ 4, 5; Ord. 71-397-181; Ord. 83-591-400, § 1)

Jacksonville Ordinance Code § 470.308 Absorption beds.

Sec. 470.308. - Absorption beds. An absorption bed may be used with a septic tank in lieu of an ordinary absorption field. Whenever soil conditions do not meet the standards of this Chapter, soil shall be removed to a minimum depth of six feet and replaced with clean, coarse sand. The size of the bed shall be sufficient to meet the absorption area requirements of Section 470.307(a). The distance between centers and distribution lines in an absorption bed shall be a maximum of three feet for drain tile and four feet for block or cradle units. The distance between the side wall of the bed and the center of the outside distribution line shall be one and one-half feet for drain tile and two feet for block or cradle units. (Ord. 70-650-526; Ord. 70-1292-571, § 2; Ord. 71-397-181; Ord. 83-591-400, § 1)

Jacksonville Ordinance Code § 470.309 Distribution boxes.

Sec. 470.309. - Distribution boxes. If two or more laterals or lines of drain pipes are required, a distribution box shall be provided between the septic tank and the absorption field or bed. The distribution box shall be constructed of durable material, shall be watertight, of adequate structural strength, and of sufficient size to accommodate the required number of lines and drain pipe. Each drainfield line shall connect individually to the distribution box. The invert of the inlet to the box shall be at least one inch above the invert of the outlets, and, the invert of all outlets shall be level. (Ord. 70-650-526; Ord. 71-397-181; Ord. 83-591-400, § 1)

Jacksonville Ordinance Code § 470.310 Header pipe.

Sec. 470.310. - Header pipe. In lieu of a distribution box, a header pipe may be used if installed in compliance with this Section. A header pipe shall be sewer pipe of vitrified clay at least four inches in diameter with watertight joints. Header pipe is not required to be encased in filter material. The header pipe shall be laid level with direct connections to each drainfield line and septic tank, using appropriate sewer pipe fittings. (Ord. 70-650-526; Ord. 71-397-181; Ord. 83-591-400, § 1)

Jacksonville Ordinance Code § 470.311 Automatic dosing of absorption fields.

Sec. 470.311. - Automatic dosing of absorption fields. If the required area of the absorption field or absorption bed is greater than 1,000 square feet, an automatic dosing device shall be installed. Plans and equipment specifications on an automatic dosing system shall be approved by the Director before installation to insure that the automatic dosing device is capable of performing the functions for which it is intended. (Ord. 70-650-526; Ord. 71-435-150, § 6; Ord. 71-397-181; Ord. 83-591-400, § 1)

Jacksonville Ordinance Code § 470.312 Grease trap.

Sec. 470.312. - Grease trap. Every food service establishment, including but not limited to a restaurant, club or church with kitchen facilities, and similar establishment producing a relatively large quantity of grease, is required to employ a grease trap with an effective capacity of at least 750 gallons. The grease trap shall drain or connect to a septic tank of required capacity, for sedimentation of solid matter, prior to disposal through any absorption field or sand filter system. The required effective capacity of a grease trap serving all kitchen fixtures and drains is the product of three gallons flow per meal times the estimated maximum number of meals to be served during a three-hour operating period, but not less than 750 gallons. (Ord. 70-650-526; Ord. 71-435-150, § 7; Ord. 71-397-181; Ord. 83-591-400, § 1)

Jacksonville Ordinance Code § 470.313 Laundry wastes.

Sec. 470.313. - Laundry wastes. Effluent or drainage from a washing machine in a residence or multiple dwelling may be disposed of by discharge directly into the septic tank or by discharge into a separate interceptor. If used, a separate interceptor shall have a minimum capacity of 250 gallons, baffled and vented as specified in Section 470.305(e), and a minimum absorption area of 100 square feet for the first two bedrooms and 25 additional square feet for each additional bedroom. No separate interceptor for laundry wastes may receive waste flow from kitchen fixtures or be used as a grease trap. Use of a separate interceptor does not reduce the minimum requirements of this Chapter for septic tank effective capacity or absorption field, area or bed. (Ord. 70-650-526; Ord. 71-435-150, § 7; Ord. 71-397-181; Ord. 83-591-400, § 1)

Jacksonville Ordinance Code § 470.314 Food waste grinders.

Sec. 470.314. - Food waste grinders. Garbage waste from a household food waste grinder shall be discharged only into the general-purpose septic tank receiving sewage waste. (Ord. 70-650-526; Ord. 71-435-150, § 7; Ord. 71-397-181; Ord. 83-591-400, § 1)

Jacksonville Ordinance Code § 470.315 Percolation test and rate.

Sec. 470.315. - Percolation test and rate. (a) A percolation test, when required under this Chapter, shall be performed in the following manner: (1) The test shall be made in a hole not less than four nor more than 12 inches in diameter, with vertical sides, bored into the depth of the proposed absorption trench. (2) The bottom and sides of the hole shall be carefully scratched to remove any smeared soil surfaces. All loose material shall be removed from the hole, and two inches of fine gravel shall be added to prevent scouring. (3) The hole shall be filled with clear water to a minimum depth of 12 inches. That water level shall be maintained for 15 minutes by adding water as necessary. (4) Thereafter, the length of time in minutes for the first three-inch drop, when divided by three, is the percolation rate. (b) The Director may require that a percolation test be made in his presence. (c) No percolation test shall be made in filled ground unless the soil: (1) Has been thoroughly and mechanically compacted. (2) Has settled for at least six months. (Ord. 70-650-526; Ord. 71-435-150, § 7; Ord. 71-397-181; Ord. 83-591-400, § 1)

Source: City of Jacksonville, Ordinance Code and Charter and Related Laws (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/fl/jacksonville/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TITXIIIHECO_CH470INSEDISY_PT3SETASYFetched: 10/27/2026