Restrictions. The Good, The Bad And The Ugly.

Let's talk about some restrictions to consider when buying land.

Before purchasing your lot, make sure you can use the land in the way you intend to. It's no newsflash, there are far more ways a property’s use can be restricted than there used to be. Subdivision regulations, zoning ordinances, easements, building codes, standards, and permits, regulations regarding endangered species, wetlands, water quality, toxic materials, and other more complex environmental issues are examples of potential restrictions that could keep you from building. You’d hate to pull the trigger on a transaction with big hopes in mind, then find out after the fact the land has a constraint that won’t allow you to build any type of structure.

Pro tip:

Zoning can dictate what the highest and best use is. While it’s possible to get the land rezoned, it’s not guaranteed. There are 3 main circumstances that justify rezoning a property.

• There was an error made in the original classification of the land. There may be more than one interpretation and honest errors are made.

• Changes have occurred surrounding the land that prevent the land from being used as it's currently zoned.

• The rezoning request is consistent with long term land use plans made by the local government.

If you want to avoid this altogether, look for "unrestricted land for sale" throughout the country. Otherwise, expect the development of land and the ways it can be used to be controlled by zoning laws.

Agricultural, commercial, industrial, recreational, and residential, combination, aesthetic, and historical zones are what you may see, in search of your lot. The zone your land is classified as will determine what you're legally allowed to do with it. In other words, if you buy a vacant lot in the middle of a subdivision, you probably won’t be able to build a ten-story high rise on it.