Putnam County · a county in two water management districts
Well and septic permits in Putnam County
Who issues the well permit, who issues the septic permit, and what each one turns on for a property in Putnam County.
Putnam County at a glance
- Well permits
- Florida Department of Health in Putnam County
- Septic permits
- Putnam County environmental health office
- County seat
- Palatka
Well permits
Putnam County's health department holds a delegation agreement with the St. Johns River district. Putnam also straddles a district boundary: part of the county lies inside the Suwannee River district, so for a parcel out toward the western county line it is worth confirming which district the property actually sits in before filing.
Construction, modification and abandonment all require a permit under Chapter 62-532, Florida Administrative Code.
Septic permits
Septic permits are issued through the county environmental health office. A high proportion of systems here predate current standards, so replacement designs are held to today's setbacks rather than the ones in force when the original tank went in.
New systems, replacements, repairs to the drain field and tank abandonment are permitted under Chapter 64E-6, Florida Administrative Code.
What that means on the ground
Putnam is the county most likely to surprise a homeowner with the map. The east of the county, Palatka and the river corridor, sits in the St. Johns River district and files through the county health department under that district's delegation. The far west lies inside the Suwannee River district, and a parcel there answers to a different set of district rules even though the county office is the same.
The housing is older along the river, with older equipment and tanks that predate the current septic rule. Interlachen and the lake country to the west run shallower wells that move with the water table, and a dry spring shows up there first.
Call Flamingo confirms the district before filing on a western Putnam parcel, because filing under the wrong district's rules is not a small delay.
The one number both permits share
A private drinking well has to sit at least 75 feet from any part of a septic system, and an irrigation well 50 feet, under the state onsite sewage rule. Whichever office issues which permit in Putnam County, that measurement is what decides where a new well or a new drain field can go. How the setback plays out on a lot.
Straight answers
Putnam County permit questions
Who issues a well permit in Putnam County?
Florida Department of Health in Putnam County. Putnam County's health department holds a delegation agreement with the St. Johns River district. Putnam also straddles a district boundary: part of the county lies inside the Suwannee River district, so for a parcel out toward the western county line it is worth confirming which district the property actually sits in before filing.
Who issues a septic permit in Putnam County?
Putnam County environmental health office. Septic permits are issued through the county environmental health office. A high proportion of systems here predate current standards, so replacement designs are held to today's setbacks rather than the ones in force when the original tank went in.
Does Call Flamingo handle the permits?
Yes. Well construction, modification and abandonment permits, and septic installation, replacement and abandonment permits are filed with the county office as part of the job, and the completion or abandonment report is filed afterwards.
Well or septic work in Putnam County
Free estimates and the permit filed with the right office, seven days a week.