Use this before
Use this before a land offer, survey order, plan purchase, or builder pricing request. Start with the parcel address because incorporated cities and unincorporated county land can use different review paths.
Confirm who controls the property
The mailing city and the permitting authority can differ. Confirm jurisdiction from the parcel address before relying on any checklist.
- Identify the planning and building authorityAsk whether the parcel is inside a city or in unincorporated county land. Record the zoning, building, road, wastewater, and fire-review contacts.
- Confirm the proposed useVerify that the intended home, barndominium, garage, shop, accessory dwelling, or mixed use is allowed. Ask about home-occupation and business-use limits when they apply.
- Map setbacks, easements, and restrictionsPlace front, side, and rear setbacks, utility easements, road right-of-way, drainage easements, and private restrictions on one site sketch.
- Check parcel historyAsk about prior permits, violations, lot splits, floodplain records, septic approvals, and any expired or incomplete applications.
Prove the site can support the project
- Confirm wastewater firstIdentify the onsite wastewater authority or sewer provider. Protect enough area for the initial system and any required replacement area before locating the building, drive, or outbuildings.
- Confirm the water sourceDetermine whether public water, a district connection, or a private well serves the site. Ask for connection requirements, meter location, line distance, and available capacity.
- Confirm road and driveway accessIdentify the road owner and ask whether an entrance, culvert, sight-distance, or driveway permit is required. Check grades, delivery-truck turning, and emergency access.
- Screen soils, slope, drainage, and flood riskReview survey contours, visible drainage paths, mapped soils, flood maps, and low areas. Use site-specific evaluation and engineering when the screening shows risk.
- Price utility extensionsGet written availability and distance information for electric, gas, water, sewer, and communications. Long runs, easements, transformers, and road crossings can change the site budget.
- Reserve construction spaceMark the building pad, drive, material staging, equipment access, spoil placement, drainage work, septic areas, and protected trees before finalizing the site plan.
Assemble the readiness packet
- Create one current site planShow property lines, proposed structures, dimensions, setbacks, easements, access, utilities, wastewater areas, drainage direction, and major grade changes.
- List every open assumptionKeep unanswered items visible, including soil treatment, rock, fill, retaining, utility extension, driveway work, and offsite approvals.
- Request written project scopeGive the builder the address, site plan, intended use, approximate size, plans, finish level, and target timing. Written exclusions should identify site work that remains separate.
- Recheck current requirements before submissionForms, adopted codes, fees, and review contacts can change. Confirm the current submittal list with the authority handling the property.
Official sources
Open the current agency or technical source before making a property, design, or permit decision.