6 Subdivision Building Costs: What to Know Before Buying & Developing
When you are purchasing land to subdivide it and use the resulting lots for development, there is a lot that you need to know beforehand.
The most important factor to consider is the zoning restrictions imposed by the area’s council regarding what the block of land can be used for. It is also crucial to know the zoning regulations of the surrounding area, as well as make sure that there are no future plans to build public infrastructure through your land.
In the Marion, Ohio area? Don’t miss our Complete Guide to Marion Ohio Zoning, Engineering, & Building Permits!
Subdivision Building Costs
There are several costs involved when separating a lot from a bigger parcel of land and getting it ready for house building.
We’ve outlined the costs you can expect to incur when you buy land with the intention of developing it:
1. Complete Land Survey Costs
These costs can range from $300 to $1,200 depending on the land’s location, complexity of the survey, and other factors. Typically, before selling any land, a seller is required to have it surveyed by a certified surveyor to determine where the boundaries of the lot or lots to be sold are.
The boundary lines established by the surveyor are used as the base on which setbacks, fence lines, and boundary disputes are settled. If you are purchasing one of multiple lots – say in a subdivision – the survey costs are paid by the seller and then added onto the prices of the lots.
2. Property Line Survey Costs
These costs range between $200 and $500. A property line survey is undertaken to establish the location of boundaries that are no longer known – although a complete land survey had been done in the past.
It is essential for you as the buyer to know the exact boundaries of your land for the sake of subdivision and building of setbacks and fences.
3. Perc Test Costs
These costs range from $200 to $500 per lot. A percolation test is undertaken by a licensed soil engineer to find out if the soil on the land is suitable for property development. They check for a variety of factors including how well the soil in the area absorbs water.
Results of the Perc test help to determine if a drain field is permitted, and what type is required – but that is only if you are not planning on using city water or sewage systems.
There are no extra development costs required if a standard drain field is permitted.
4. Engineered Field Design Costs
These costs range from $600 to $1,500. If your land requires an engineered drain field because it has soils that don’t absorb water quickly, you will need to pay for a design from the soils engineer.
In addition to the design costs, an engineered drain field will cost you between $8,000 and $18,000 while standard systems only cost up to $6000.
5. Sewer System Connection Costs
The costs here range from $2,500 to $10,000, but they can be much higher.
The costs depend on your property’s location and how far your construction is from the sewer line.
6. Site Planning Costs
The costs for a site plan range between $100 and $1,200. Site plans are detailed sketches of property made to show all its features, boundaries, existing structures, and other important details.
They must be submitted to the local municipality for approval before any development on the land begins.
Other Costs
Additional costs may be incurred on other processes such as environmental impact assessment (up to $8,000), rezoning and permit for land division (up to $3,500) and wetlands delineation report (up to $3,500).
Talk to Your Civil Contractor About Pricing
We’re happy to walk you through estimates for utility costs on your new subdivision developments. Just give us a call, and we can help!