The short answer: To build a house on your own land in Florida, you find out what the lot allows, choose a floor plan that fits, price the site work, line up a construction loan, get your permits, and then build. With Eastern Homes, permitting typically takes about three months and the build takes about six, so plan on about nine months from contract to keys. Permit timing depends on your county.
Below is each step in plain English, with what you can do now and how we can help. We build in ten Florida counties, from Orange and Seminole in Central Florida to St. Lucie on the Treasure Coast and Lee on the Gulf Coast.
Step 1: Find out what your land allows
Every lot comes with its own rules. Before you pick a plan, it helps to know what can go on the land. These are the main things to check:
- Zoning. The county or city decides what can be built on each parcel, such as a single-family home.
- Setbacks. These are the distances the house has to keep from the front, back and side property lines. Setbacks and lot width set the space you can build on.
- Deed restrictions. Some neighborhoods set a minimum home size or other rules for new homes.
- Flood zone. You can look up any address on FEMA’s Flood Map Service Center. In a flood zone, the home may need to sit higher off the ground to meet local floodplain rules, which can mean bringing in fill dirt.
- Water and sewer. If city water and sewer are not available at the road, the home will need a well and a septic system.
- Easements and wetlands. A utility easement or a wetland area on the lot can shrink the space you can build on.
You do not need to sort through all of this on your own. Send us your address or parcel number, and we will check these items as part of a free lot evaluation.
Step 2: Choose a floor plan that fits your lot
Once you know the space you can build on, you can match a plan to it. Eastern Homes offers fifteen single-story floor plans from 1,198 to 2,518 square feet, with two to four bedrooms. Nine of the fifteen are split-bedroom plans, with the primary suite on one side of the home and the other bedrooms on the other side.
A wide lot gives you more plans to choose from. A narrow lot or large setbacks may point you toward a plan with a smaller footprint. You can see every plan with its drawing on our floor plans page.
Step 3: Plan for site work
Site work is everything it takes to get the land ready for the house. It is different on every lot, so it is priced separately from the house. Common site work items include:
- Clearing trees and stumps, grading the land, and bringing in fill dirt to raise the building pad
- A driveway, plus a culvert if the lot needs one
- A well and septic system when city water and sewer are not available
- Bringing power to the home from the nearest utility pole
- A survey, engineering, and county impact fees
In Orange County and most other Florida counties, the septic permit comes from the county health department. The application includes a site plan and a floor plan. A few counties, mostly in the Panhandle, apply through the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
When we price a home on your lot, the house and the site work are separate lines, so you can see what each part costs. Our guide to how much it costs to build a house in Florida goes into costs in more detail.
Step 4: Line up your financing
A common way to pay for a home on your own land is a construction-to-permanent loan. This is one loan that pays for the build and then turns into a regular mortgage when the home is finished. While the house is being built, the lender pays the builder in stages, called draws, as the work reaches set points.
If you already own your land, ask your lender how it counts toward your down payment. Loan terms, rates and requirements vary from lender to lender, so it helps to talk with one early. Our financing page explains your options.
Step 5: Get your permits
Florida uses one statewide building code, the Florida Building Code. Your county or city building department reviews the plans and issues the building permit. If the lot needs a septic system, that permit is separate and goes through the health department.
With Eastern Homes, permitting typically takes about three months. The exact time depends on your county.
Before any digging starts, Florida law requires a call to Sunshine 811 at least two full business days ahead, so underground utility lines can be marked.
Step 6: Build your home
Once the permits are in hand, construction begins. Building typically takes about six months. The work moves from site work and the slab to the walls and roof, then plumbing and electrical, and then the finishes inside the home.
Every Eastern Homes house includes a 2-10 Warranty. You can see how a build works with us from start to finish on our process page.
Find out what you can build on your land
Send us your address or parcel number. We will check the zoning, setbacks, flood zone and utilities, and show you which of our fifteen plans fit. The lot evaluation is free and there is no obligation.
Common questions about building on your own land
Can I build a house on any land I own?
Not always. The land has to be zoned for a home, and the house has to fit within the setbacks, flood rules and any deed restrictions. A lot evaluation tells you what your land can hold before you spend money on plans.
Is it cheaper to build on land you already own?
Owning the land means a lot is not part of your purchase price. You still pay for the house and the site work, and site work costs change from lot to lot. A lot with city water and sewer at the road and few trees usually costs less to prepare than a wooded lot that needs a well and septic system.
How long does it take to build a house on your own land?
With Eastern Homes, permitting takes about three months and building takes about six months, so plan on about nine months from contract to keys. Permit timing depends on your county.
Do I need to own land before I talk to a builder?
No. If you are still looking at lots, send us the ones you are considering and we will check what each one can hold.
Does Eastern Homes sell lots?
No. We build homes, and we do not sell land on its own. If you are still searching for land, our Finding a Lot page is a good place to start.
Which counties do you build in?
We build in Orange, Seminole, Lake, Volusia, Brevard, Indian River, St. Lucie, Charlotte, Sarasota and Lee counties.