In short
- The state's equine BMP manual sets manure storage back 100 ft from private wells, 200 ft from sinkholes and watercourses and 300 ft from public wells.
- Where a barn goes decides where manure, wash racks, troughs and runoff can go, so settle the layout before the slab.
- Enrolling in the FDACS BMP program is voluntary and gives a presumption of compliance with state water quality standards.
- In a springs BMAP, manure stored on karst ground must be covered.
On this page
Most buyers price the stalls and forget the pile. Horse manure management in Marion County is a siting question first: the same parcel that holds your barn also holds a well, a septic drainfield and a manure area, and the state's BMP manual puts distances between them. Plan those distances before a builder sets the pad.
We are a referral service that connects visitors with independent local builders; we do not build, design or give legal advice.
Why does manure matter more in Marion County?
Marion County sits over limestone and springs. The FDACS manual says spring water "directly reflects the quality of groundwater in an area" and that poorly managed manure can be a source of nutrient and pathogen pollution to surface water or sinkholes, a breeding ground for flies and a source of odor and neighbor complaints. That is the reason the setbacks exist. For ground conditions on your parcel see horse barn site soils in Marion County.
What distances does the state manual set?
These come from Appendix 4 of the FDACS manual. They are practice targets for enrolled operations, not building code, and the manual says some are "as practicable for the operation".
| Barn-area feature | Keep away from | Feet |
|---|---|---|
| Water troughs, feed and mineral stations | Surface waters, sinkholes, drinking wells | 100 |
| High-intensity areas (feeding areas, arenas) | Surface waters, sinkholes, wells | 200 |
| Horse wash area | Waterbodies, wells, septic drainfields | 50 |
| Burial site (below ground) | Surface waters, wells, sinkholes | 200 |
| Spring or spring run | Vegetated buffer, no fertilizer | 100 |
The manual says high-intensity areas must be 200 ft from these resources "unless pre-existing at the time of enrollment". Burial sites must also be 100 ft from adjacent property.
Do the layout math on paper first. A well, a drainfield, a wash rack and a manure bin each pull the barn in a different direction. On a small parcel you may not fit all of them at the listed distances. It is cheaper to learn that before you buy the lot or pour the slab.
What does the manual say about the pile itself?
- Keep it from discharging. Locate storage so nothing runs into surface water, drinking-water wells, sinkholes or property lines. Measures include setbacks, an impervious base (concrete or compacted clay), a berm upgradient and a tarp or other waterproof cover.
- Avoid low spots. Do not put storage where water pools; the manual warns of groundwater contamination.
- Close, but not too close. Convenient to the barn, "but not too close in case of a fire".
- Compost it. Composting kills pathogens, reduces pests and adds value. The manual lists free-standing pile, windrow or bin systems, chosen by how much manure you make.
- Do not let it sit. Manure "cannot be piled up for a long duration" and needs a disposal plan, such as spreading away from water, wells and boundaries or a commercial hauler (keep a bill of lading).
What changes in a springs area?
Parts of Marion County drain to Outstanding Florida Springs, which have adopted basin management action plans (BMAPs). Inside one, the manual says manure storage areas in a karst area must be covered with a tarp or other waterproof material, and nitrogen must not exceed agronomic rates. We cannot tell you whether your parcel is inside one; ask FDACS or the county.
The cover also changes your layout: a covered bin or roofed pad is a small structure. Ask whether it needs a permit under our Marion County horse barn permits guide.
How does the voluntary BMP program work?
- Contact FDACS
Equine operations work with an FDACS representative to complete a Notice of Intent and a BMP checklist.
- Implement the practices
The checklist covers manure, wells, pastures, wash areas and more. Planned items can be marked as planned.
- Get the protection
Enrolled producers properly implementing BMPs are entitled to a presumption of compliance with state water quality standards.
- Expect a visit
FDACS must do an implementation verification visit every two years.
The manual also says enrollment makes you eligible for cost share on certain practices "as funds are available". We found no dollar amounts, so do not budget on it. The UF/IFAS Marion County Extension office can advise on sizing a composting system.
Questions for a builder before you sign
- Where on the plan are the well, drainfield, wash rack and manure area, and how far apart are they?
- Do gutters and downspouts send roof water away from the paddock and feed areas?
- Is a manure pad, bin or cover in the price, or is it left to me?
- Do wash-rack and stall drains go to a vegetated area, not a ditch?
- Will the layout still work if my parcel turns out to be in a springs BMAP?
Saves money: list manure and wash-rack work as separate lines in the quote comparison worksheet so you can compare bids on equal scope.
To compare builders, describe your parcel in the form below. Independent local builders may reach out. For typical price ranges see our horse barn cost guide.
Sources
- FDACS, Florida Equine Operations, 2024 Edition: Water Quality and Water Quantity Best Management Practices. Practices 1.6, 3.2, 3.6-3.8, the enrollment section and Appendix 4.
- UF/IFAS Marion County Extension, for composting-system sizing and local help.
- Confirm current rules with FDACS, FDEP and Marion County. This page is not legal advice.
Frequently asked questions
Is manure management a rule I must follow if I build a horse barn in Marion County?
Not automatically. The FDACS equine BMP program is voluntary: you enroll by filing a Notice of Intent. Enrolled operations that implement the practices are entitled to a presumption of compliance with state water quality standards. Other state and local rules may still apply, so confirm with FDACS, the county and the UF/IFAS Marion County Extension office.
Does the barn have to be a certain distance from my well?
The manual sets manure storage setbacks (100 ft from private potable wells, 300 ft from public potable wells) and 100 ft for watering troughs and supplemental feed stations. It does not set a barn setback. Septic and well separations for the barn itself come from the permitting process, so ask the county.
What about manure storage in a springs area?
Inside an Outstanding Florida Springs BMAP adopted by FDEP, the manual says manure storage areas located in a karst area must be covered with a tarp or other waterproof material to prevent leaching. Ask FDACS or the county whether your parcel is inside one.
Can I dump manure in a sinkhole or a low spot?
No. The manual says never to dispose of any material into sinkholes, and not to put manure storage in depressional areas where water pools.
Where do the numbers on this page come from?
The Florida Equine Operations 2024 Edition: Water Quality and Water Quantity Best Management Practices manual from FDACS, including its Appendix 4 setback table. We give no costs because we found no sourced prices.