City of Baltimore, Maryland
The most common soil here is Udorthents, on about 10% of the land. Legore and Joppa come next.
About 36% of the land drains well; groundwater comes within two feet of the surface under 6% of it.
USDA rates 56% of the land very limited for a standard septic drain field, and 21% very limited for homes with basements. That means extra cost or special design, not that it can't be done.
Worth knowing: 2% of the land floods occasionally or more.
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 City of Baltimore, Maryland, 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 Ultisols — strongly weathered soils with clay-enriched subsoils, common in warm humid climates. 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 City of Baltimore, Maryland. 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, 0 to 15 percent slopes | 13K | D | Not limited | Not limited | |
| Water | 7K | Not rated | Not rated | ||
| Udorthents, smoothed, 0 to 35 percent slopes | 3K | Well drained | C | Very limited | Very limited |
| Legore-Urban land complex, 0 to 8 percent slopes | 3K | Well drained | B | Not limited | Very limited |
| Legore-Urban land complex, 8 to 15 percent slopes | 2K | Well drained | B | Somewhat limited | Very limited |
| Jackland-Urban land complex, 0 to 8 percent slopes | 2K | Moderately well drained | D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Joppa-Urban land complex, 0 to 8 percent slopes | 1K | A | Not limited | Very limited | |
| Montalto-Urban land complex, 0 to 8 percent slopes | 1K | Well drained | C | Somewhat limited | Very limited |
| Urban land-Sunnyside-Christiana complex, 0 to 8 percent slopes | 1K | D | Not limited | Very limited | |
| Urban land-Sassafras complex, 0 to 8 percent slopes | 1K | D | Not limited | Not limited | |
| Joppa-Urban land complex, 8 to 15 percent slopes | 1K | A | Somewhat limited | Very limited | |
| Sassafras-Urban land complex, 0 to 8 percent slopes | 1K | Well drained | A | Not limited | Very limited |
| Beltsville-Urban land complex, 0 to 8 percent slopes | 984 | Moderately well drained | C | Very limited | Very limited |
| Urban land-Udorthents complex, occasionally flooded | 903 | D | Not limited | Not limited | |
| Mattapex-Urban land complex, 0 to 8 percent slopes | 870 | Moderately well drained | C | Very limited | Very limited |
| Keyport-Urban land complex, 0 to 8 percent slopes | 854 | Moderately well drained | D | Somewhat limited | Very limited |
| Urban land-Sunnyside-Christiana complex, 8 to 15 percent slopes | 823 | D | Somewhat limited | Very limited | |
| Sunnyside-Urban land complex, 0 to 8 percent slopes | 802 | Well drained | B | Not limited | Very limited |
| Hatboro-Codorus complex, 0 to 3 percent slopes, frequently flooded | 783 | Poorly drained | B/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Urban land-Sunnyside complex, 0 to 8 percent slopes | 681 | D | Not limited | Not 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 21% of soils have significant building limitations, while the rest are generally suitable. Check specific sites carefully — conditions vary across the area.
Septic Systems
About 56% 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.