Land & Acreage Q&A November 2026 5 Min Read

What Should I Check Before Buying Land in Florida?

Five key things to verify on road access, wetlands, A-1 zoning, timber exemptions, and utilities before buying acreage.

Executive Key Takeaways

Always confirm legal and physical road access—either direct paved road frontage or a recorded legal easement.
Check wetland maps and soil surveys so you know how much of the land is high-and-dry ('uplands') for building.
Verify A-1 agricultural zoning and Greenbelt/timber tax exemptions to keep your yearly property taxes low.

5 Things We Check on Every Florida Land Purchase

Whether you are looking at 19.72 acres of timberland in Fort McCoy (MLS# TB8520776) or 79.54 acres on US Hwy 98 in Frostproof (MLS# TB8506525), Mark and Rachael help you check five essentials:

1. Survey & Road Access: Confirm fence lines, gated entrances, and legal road frontage.
2. High-and-Dry Land vs. Wetlands: Check county and water district maps to see where you can build.
3. Zoning & Future Land Use: Check how many homes are allowed, whether horses/cattle are permitted, or if commercial use is possible.
4. Agricultural & Timber Tax Savings: Verify if the land qualifies for Florida's Greenbelt agricultural tax discount.
5. Power, Well & Septic: Check how close electric lines are at the road and what well/septic permits are needed.

Frequently Asked Questions