Septic System Installation & Replacement in Ocala, FL
Building on a lot without sewer, or replacing a system that has failed? Around Ocala, the springs rules may decide what kind of system you can install. Tell us about the property and a local septic contractor will follow up.
Free, no-obligation estimate from a local septic contractor.
Photo: Jonathan Billinger, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Your options
Types of septic systems
- Conventional — a tank and a gravity drainfield. The simplest and usually cheapest, but UF/IFAS notes it removes only about 30% of nitrogen.
- In-ground nitrogen-reducing biofilter (INRB) — a passive system with a special media layer that removes more nitrogen. Florida DEP lists it as one of the approved options in springs areas.
- Aerobic treatment unit (ATU, NSF-245) — adds air to break waste down further. It needs electricity, an operating permit and a maintenance contract.
- Performance-based system (PBTS) — an engineered design, also with ongoing permit and maintenance requirements.
Sources: UF/IFAS, Your septic system; Florida DEP, springs and existing systems fact sheet.
Does your lot need a nitrogen-reducing system?
Under Florida law, inside a springs BMAP area, a new septic system on a lot of 1 acre or less without sewer must be a nitrogen-reducing type. Much of Marion County falls inside the Silver Springs and Rainbow Springs BMAP.
Rules for replacing an existing system in the priority focus area depend on DEP’s current plan and map. Your contractor or Florida DEP can tell you what applies to your address.
Only replacing the tank? → · Aerobic system upkeep →
Sources: Florida Statutes s. 403.067; Florida DEP, 2025 Silver and Rainbow Springs BMAP order.
The process
How a new system gets installed
Site evaluation
The soil, water table and lot layout are evaluated. DEP’s permitting FAQ says the applicant can have DEP or a private site evaluator do this.
DEP permit
In Marion County, the construction permit comes from Florida DEP. A registered septic contractor usually applies on your behalf.
Install and inspection
The contractor installs the tank and drainfield, the work is inspected, and the system is approved for use.
Price guide
What a new system costs
| System | Typical range |
|---|---|
| New system overall (national) | $3,590–$12,463, avg $8,016 |
| Conventional | $3,000–$8,000 |
| Aerobic | $10,000–$20,000 |
| Drip distribution | $8,000–$18,000 |
| Tank replacement, Orlando FL | $5,070–$12,168, avg $6,084 |
| Nitrogen-reducing upgrade (FL, 2019) | $10,000–$20,000 |
National figures are HomeAdvisor (June 2026). Orlando tank figures are Angi (August 2026). The nitrogen-reducing estimate is UF/IFAS (2019).
Sources: HomeAdvisor, septic tank installation cost; Angi, septic tank and drain field costs in Orlando, FL; UF/IFAS Extension, septic upgrade incentives.
Help with the cost
Florida DEP has run a Septic Upgrade Incentive Program offering up to $10,000 per system for qualifying upgrades in springs priority areas, including Marion County. The installer applies and needs approval before work starts. Funding depends on the state budget, so ask your contractor whether it’s open right now.
If central sewer is planned for your street, Marion County’s septic-to-sewer program may be a better route. More on that here.
Sources: UF/IFAS Extension, septic upgrade incentives; Marion County Utilities, septic-to-sewer projects.
Questions
New septic system FAQ
Can I put a new septic system where sewer is available?
How long does installation take?
Do aerobic systems cost more to own?
Get a quote from a local septic pro
Tell us what’s happening with your system and where you are. A local Ocala-area septic contractor will follow up with an estimate. There’s no cost and no obligation.