4th Step - Property Checklist. Below are some items to be considered before purchasing property. Please see the buying land document for entire list of items to consider. Set up appointments with your County or City government officials to find out the following (keep their names and phone numbers as to who you talked to):
- Meet with someone in Zoning and find out the set backs on your property. Front, back and sides.
- Meet with someone in Natural Resources
- See if property is in a flood zone. If in a Flood Zone a FEMA Finished Floor Height Elevation certificate may be needed. (is called different things, but basically FEMA knows the height your finished floor has to be in order for insurance companies to sell flood insurance to you. It is very important that you know this height and give it to Ai as the height has to go on your building plans.)
- does the site have wetlands? If wetlands, what areas on the property can be built on? Do you have to mitigate wetlands in order to build on that property?
- are there any endangered plants, trees, birds or animals on the property? To know this do you have to hire person to evaluate the property and submit a report to the county?
- Meet with Plans Examiner and get a list of all paperwork that is required to be submitted for a new home building permit. In Florida all new home construction requires Fl engineer sealed building plans and passing Florida Energy Report. The plans, engineer seal on the plans & energy report can be purchased from Ai. But what else do they require? Site map, survey showing land elevation? permit for septic tank from Health Dept, well permit if not city water, electrical/plumbing/HVAC diagrams?, etc.
- Obtain a copy of the front, back, and side setbacks. And set backs from sewer or water lines or septic tank/drain field and well.
- Is there a county maintained road for you to build a driveway off of?
- Are you required to build a garage with the house? Is there a size requirement on the garage?
- Is there a minimum size house requirement?
- Call the Electric company
- Ask where the nearest electric pole is to access to get power to your site?
- How much will it cost to get electricity to the property you are considering buying?
- Is there a survey of the property that shows the height of the property vs the height of the crown of the nearest county maintained road? How much fill has to be brought in and compacted to get the finished floor height required for that area?
- Can you obtain a permit to stay in RV or temporary small mobile home, during dome construction if desired?
- Will the soil on the property perk for a septic tank permit if there is not city sewer?
- Can a well be drilled if there is not city water? Are there ledges of rock that cause a well to not be drilled?
