We often inspect rural homes with a deep, but rounded depression that  appears to be an older sinkhole on the property—so old that tall trees are growing out of it. Here’s what the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) recommends:

"If you have a sinkhole on a large property, and it is not actively developing or impacting some activity on the property, it can be left alone. If there is a danger of people or animals falling into the depression, it can be filled with clayey sand or it can be fenced off. Do not fill it with organic material or something that could potentially decompose or release potential toxins into the underlying groundwater. 

    Many people have sinkholes on their property that are just part of the natural landscape. If one suddenly appears, we suggest filling it with clayey sand as the clayey material will retard water movement. Water flowing into a sinkhole can cause it to expand and become more active. Never throw anything into a sinkhole that could possibly contaminate groundwater." 

    There are no restrictions on sinkholes that are inactive and overgrown with vegetation, but that does not mean everything is definitely alright. “At any given time, a sinkhole can become active,” according to Betty Levin, senior environmental specialist with Alachua County, Florida.

    A buffer distance, which varies by county, is required between new home construction and any significant geological feature such as an active sinkhole. An active sinkhole is defined as one with an opening, exposed limestone or recent soil movement.

    The largest old sinkhole we know of is a tourist attraction, the Devil’s Millhopper Geological State Park, in Gainesville, Florida. It’s 212 steps down to get to the bottom, along a boardwalk shown at the top of the page.

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Here’s links to a collection of our other blog posts about SINKHOLES:

• Why do so many more sinkholes open up after a hurricane?

• What is a chimney sinkhole?

• What are the warning signs of a sinkhole? 

• What causes sinkholes?

• How can homebuyers protect themselves against buying a house over a sinkhole?  

• What is my chance of buying a Florida home over a sinkhole? 

• How does a repaired sink hole under a house affect its market value?

• Where are sinkholes most likely to occur in Florida? 

• Are sinkholes happening more often?

   Visit our SINKHOLES page for other related blog posts on this subject, or go to the INDEX for a complete listing of all our articles.