Los Angeles County, California, Southeastern Part
The most common soil here is Tujunga, on about 4% of the land: a coarse sand, loose sand that holds almost no water. Palmview and Typic Xerorthents come next.
About 35% of the land drains well, and 4% stays wet for long stretches.
USDA rates 68% of the land very limited for a standard septic drain field, and 52% very limited for homes with basements. That means extra cost or special design, not that it can't be done.
Worth knowing: 1% of the land floods occasionally or more, and bedrock lies within 40 inches under 11% of it.
Soils change over short distances, so look up an address below for the soil at that exact spot and the reasons behind each rating.
The soils you're most likely standing on
The biggest named soils in Los Angeles County, California, Southeastern Part, each drawn five feet deep from its official USDA description, in its recorded colors.
Dots mark gravel; white flecks mark lime. Shares are by acres across the survey area, and each mapped patch usually mixes several of these soils.
The biggest mapped areas
The dominant drainage class is Well drained and the dominant hydrologic group is D (very slow infiltration, high runoff). The most common soil order is Entisols — young soils with little profile development, often on floodplains or steep slopes. This report summarizes the major soil map units across the survey area to help you understand what to expect when buying, building, or gardening in Los Angeles County, California, Southeastern Part. Search your address to find the exact soil composition, drainage, and series details at your specific location.
| Soil Map Unit | Acres | Drainage | Hydro Group | Dwellings | Septic |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Urban land-Hueneme, drained-San Emigdio complex, 0 to 2 percent slopes | 67K | D | Very limited | Very limited | |
| Urban land-Palmview-Tujunga complex, 0 to 5 percent slopes | 64K | D | Very limited | Very limited | |
| Urban land-Azuvina-Montebello complex, 0 to 5 percent slopes | 40K | Well drained | C | Not limited | Not rated |
| Urban land-Palmview-Tujunga, gravelly complex, 2 to 9 percent slopes | 25K | A | Not limited | Very limited | |
| Counterfeit-Urban land complex, 10 to 35 percent slopes, terraced | 25K | Somewhat poorly drained | C | Very limited | Very limited |
| Urban land-Biscailuz-Hueneme, drained complex, 0 to 2 percent slopes | 22K | D | Very limited | Not rated | |
| Urban land-Soboba complex, 0 to 5 percent slopes | 17K | Somewhat excessively drained | D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Urban land-Sorrento-Arbolado complex, 2 to 9 percent slopes | 17K | Well drained | C | Not rated | Very limited |
| Urban land-Biscailuz-Pico complex, 0 to 2 percent slopes | 16K | D | Very limited | Very limited | |
| Urban land-Windfetch-Typic Haploxerolls complex, 0 to 2 percent slopes | 15K | D | Not rated | Very limited | |
| Zaca-Apollo, warm complex, 20 to 55 percent slopes | 14K | Well drained | C | Very limited | Very limited |
| Urban land-Ballona-Typic Xerorthents, fine substratum complex, 0 to 5 percent slopes | 13K | Well drained | C | Not rated | Very limited |
| Urban land-Metz-Pico complex, 0 to 2 percent slopes | 13K | D | Very limited | Very limited | |
| Urban land-Abaft-Marina complex, 0 to 15 percent slopes | 12K | D | Not limited | Very limited | |
| Urban land-Anthraltic Xerorthents, loamy substratum-Grommet complex, 0 to 5 percent slopes | 12K | D | Not rated | Not rated | |
| Urban land-Windfetch-Centinela complex, 0 to 5 percent slopes | 12K | Well drained | D | Not rated | Very limited |
| Water | 11K | D | Not rated | Not rated | |
| Urban land-Marina complex, 0 to 5 percent slopes | 11K | D | Not rated | Not rated | |
| Urban land-Thums-Pierview complex, 0 to 5 percent slopes | 11K | Well drained | C | Not rated | Very limited |
| Vista-Cieneba complex, 30 to 85 percent slopes | 10K | Well drained | B | Very limited | Very limited |
Soil Orders in This Area
The USDA classifies every soil into one of 12 soil orders. Here are the dominant orders found in this survey area.
What This Means
Building & Foundations
About 52% of soils are rated "very limited" for dwellings with basements. Specific challenges include shallow bedrock, steep slopes, poor drainage in some areas, flood-prone areas. A geotechnical assessment is recommended before building.
Septic Systems
About 68% of soils are rated "very limited" for septic absorption fields. Despite good drainage overall, limitations may stem from shallow bedrock, steep slopes, or seasonal conditions. Engineered or alternative systems are frequently required. Always get a professional perc test before purchasing land that needs septic.
Gardening & Agriculture
Well-drained soils on sloped terrain — good for most plants but watch for erosion. Terracing, contour planting, and mulching help retain moisture and topsoil. Drip irrigation is more effective than sprinklers on slopes.