When you hear the phrase “subdivide land,” you likely think of suburban-style subdivisions.
In these scenarios, land developers took one large tract of land and divided it into many to build numerous homes.
These large-scale subdivision projects can be an effective way to add value to the land; although, they are expensive, especially if not done correctly.
However, not all subdivisions need to be so extensive.
If you’re a landowner looking for a creative way to add value, subdividing a smaller parcel of land may be the next best step.
There are just a few things you should know about the process before you begin.
Here’s how to subdivide land that you can sell, build on, or rent.
1. Subdivision is the process of dividing a tract of land into two or more pieces of land
You may be asking, “Why subdivide land at all?”
The reason that most people move forward with a subdivision is because it’s profitable for the landowner and allows them to have greater flexibility with their investment.
If you’ve purchased a large parcel of land, you may consider this option to maximize your real estate resources.
Ultimately, more lots mean more money.
By dividing a parcel of land into smaller pieces, you can sell land to multiple buyers.
You’ll liquidate portions of your land while also retaining the ability to keep some for yourself.
Whether you choose to build and live on this land, or you just hang onto it and watch the value increase, you’re increasing your flexibility and marketability.
In many cases, it’s much easier to find buyers for smaller subdivided parcels.
Smaller parcels are more affordable for buyers and save the purchaser time, effort, and risk.
It’s everything they need in a smaller package.
So here’s the general process for subdividing land…
Check for restrictions
It is best to consult with a title company before starting the subdivision process.
They can verify that you own the lot free and clear, but also that there are no deed restrictions or covenants in place that would prevent subdivision.
Evaluate the market
Before putting any money into the subdivision, you first want to make sure there is a market for the lots you are creating.
After all, if you can’t sell the lots you’ll just be throwing money away.
Call your local planning, zoning, and/or development office.
They can tell you the subdivision process for your area and give you information on any existing zoning restrictions.
You can also check online to see what information exists.
This will help you understand whether or not your property qualifies.
Do not skip this step.
If your property does not qualify, you do not want to waste your time or money.
Talk to a town planner, property lawyer, or subdivision specialist.
In general, cities and towns have increased their restrictions and fees in the past few years.
A professional in the field can help you decide whether it’s worth committing to subdividing your land.
Understand whether new infrastructure will be needed
Depending on the size of your subdivision and the local regulations, you may need to install utilities or even a new road.
You will want to keep this in mind when evaluating whether the subdivision makes sense.
Hire a surveying and/or engineering firm.
They’ll help you survey the property and draw up a plat.
A plat is a map of the surveyed land that identifies property boundaries, access right-of-ways, flood zones, easements, etc.
They will also provide feedback on whether your property is eligible for subdivision.
If there are issues, you can still consult an attorney and evaluate whether it’s smart to move forward.
However, having this information is useful.
Even if your property doesn’t qualify for subdivision, you may be able to get approval by filing a planning or zoning variance/waiver.
Sometimes planning and/or development offices make exceptions where reasonable.
Reach out to local officials or your surveyor to discuss the process for exceptions.
Design the subdivision
You will likely need to complete a plat map or set of drawings that show the exact boundaries of each of the new lots.
Typically, these drawings are done by an engineer.
Just make sure the drawings show all the elements that the county planning officials will want to see.
Submit your application and await a response.
In most cases, the application must be submitted with a plat map, certificate of title, and an application fee.
You’ll want to double-check this with local officials first.
Receive your response.
The process will differ slightly depending on your location.
In some places, a planning board or council will decide to approve the subdivision during a routine meeting.
Other areas will have subdivision issues go to a public hearing.
Make improvements to your land.
If you have any improvements that need to be made before your subdivision can be approved, you’ll make them at this point.
This may include building a road or installation of new utilities.
Your surveying company will also place the new boundary pegs.
Request certification after approval from the planning board.
Once all the necessary changes and improvements have been made, you can request approval from the planning board, which certifies that all conditions have been met.
Congratulations!
Your property has officially been subdivided.
You should obtain new titles.
2. There are a number of reasons why you may want to subdivide your lot
People subdivide land for a number of different reasons.
They may want to create housing for loved ones, or they want to want to make a profit from the land that they purchased.
Here are a few of the reasons you may choose to subdivide land.
Increase your property’s marketability
In some areas, smaller lots are easier to sell than larger lots.
So, if you have a larger lot of land that you are looking to sell, you may find it easier to sell your real estate after it is subdivided.
Make money
If you’re a land developer, chances are you’re looking to make some money off of your investment.
Dividing up your parcel of land and selling each piece to a different buyer is one way to make a profit!
Downsize your land while remaining flexible
Perhaps you find that you no longer want to maintain a large parcel of land.
By subdividing it, you can still retain part of your land while selling the rest to another buyer.
In general, this allows you to make some money while downsizing or increasing your flexibility.
Build an extra home for family
In many areas, you are only allowed to build one home on a lot.
By subdividing a larger lot, you can create several building lots that will allow you to build a few homes near yours for your children or parents.
3. You must comply with zoning (make sure you check!)
Local zoning and subdivision ordinances can often inhibit the subdivision of land, which means you need to check your local regulations before you move forward with your plans.
Here’s what the process looks like.
Contact the municipal planning and building township of the township or municipality to learn the property’s zoning category.
Determine how your property’s zoning category will affect your planned subdivision.
Many counties and towns have regulations around minimum lots sizes, setbacks and open space requirements, which may make your project infeasible.
They may also have regulations dictating that you provide certain services to the new lots that could become very expensive.
So this is not a step you can skip!
Illegal subdivisions do sometimes happen and when they do, they can end up destroying your property’s value.
4. A subdivision may or may not be the right call for you
Deciding whether or not to subdivide land can be a difficult step.
While a subdivision typically increases the value of the land, there are financial risks and hardships involved.
You’ll want to do due diligence on the process before taking action.
As mentioned above, many counties and towns have zoning or subdivision ordinances that may require you to install services to each of the new properties.
If you need to put in new roads, utilities, or other infrastructure, then your subdivision project can easily become a full-fledged community development project.
Even a simple subdivision project will require you to spend upfront money on a couple of different professionals (more on that below).
Depending on your financial situation, you may find that it doesn’t make sense to spend your limited resources in this way.
At the end of the day, you need to evaluate the costs of the subdivision and compare them to the potential benefits to see if the project makes sense for you.
Also keep in mind that you will be taking on some financial risk since certain restrictions, such as old deed restrictions, may not be easy to discover.
Sometimes, landowners only find out about deed restrictions or neighborhood covenants after spending a lot of money on a subdivision project.
So do a title search to ensure that you don’t have any outstanding liens, issues, regulations or other claims on the land that may complicate or impede your project.
5. A subdivision should be done where there is a market for land
Speaking of risks, one of the biggest risks associated with a subdivision project is market risk.
So you will want to be fairly confident that there is a stable market for the new lots you are creating (remember you will likely be selling your lots a few months or years out from now).
Research the market and other properties in your area to determine the appropriate lot size, layout, and price that is marketable in your area.
Doing this can help you determine whether your project makes sense.
If you’re unsure throughout this process, consult a local professional who can provide their expertise on the land value and how it may appreciate.
Local information can help determine many of your next steps.
For example, if many of the local homes in your area are large and expensive homes on big lots, then you shouldn’t look to create smaller homes on smaller lots.
They simply won’t do as well because they won’t be appealing to the market that you’re in.
This is why it’s wise to research your area and begin only if you can provide a product that the market is interested in.
6. You will need to hire professionals
You will always need a survey in order to subdivide land.
If your state, city, or town offers surveying services, look into those before turning to a private firm.
In most cases, state or municipal surveying services are less expensive than a private service.
However, you won’t just stop with a survey.
As mentioned above, you will likely want to hire a title company to check for old deed restrictions and other potential issues that may complicate your project.
On top of this, if your local planning office, title company or surveyor says your property is ineligible for subdivision, you will want to consider consulting an attorney who specializes in zoning laws.
You may be a good candidate for a variance or appeal.
An attorney can help guide you through the process and let you know all of your options.
Finally, you may need to hire an engineer since….
7. Subdivisions require a plat
A plat is a map drawn by a land surveyor or engineer.
It depicts the subdivision (or lots) that you want to create.
Each jurisdiction will mandate what a plat needs to show, so you’ll need to know your local rules for what it must include.
This will likely be fixtures like streets, utilities, etc.
Also, keep in mind that you will likely need to pay for several iterations of the plat when you subdivide land, including:
a preliminary plat that you will initially file with the local governing council or body.
intermediary plats if the local planning office requests changes after their engineering review
a final plat that shows any required work completed (such as new roads or utilities)
8. A subdivision has no standard cost
Unfortunately, because there’s no standard process when you subdivide land, there’s no standard cost.
The cost will depend on surveying and platting costs as well as the local application and fees.
You may also have to make improvements to the property to boost its marketability.
Overall, you should plan to spend between $2,000 and $10,000 to divide your property into more than two lots.
Have a little bit of sticker shock?
You’re not the only one.
This can catch people by surprise.
The price will depend on your location and the number of lots you’re creating.
There’s almost always an application fee regardless of where you are, and then you’ll also be responsible for dozens of other fees.
For example, you may have hearing fees, recording fees, review fees, tax map updating fees, etc.
Surveyors typically charge by the hour, so when getting your property surveyed and platted, you’ll often spend about $500 to $2,500.
However, don’t underestimate this cost.
The price could reach tens of thousands if you have a large property.
As a general rule of thumb, you should have roughly $500 to $1,500 to subdivide one mid-sized property into two and more to divide one property into more than two lots.
Note that any required improvements to the property can quickly run up your bill as well ($10,000 to $30,000).
These improvements would be roads, sewers, or utilities.
So, long story short, make sure you’ve checked (and double-checked) that you meet all the requirements (zoning and otherwise) before you begin to make this investment.
It can quickly add up financially, and you don’t want to spend money on a subdivision project that won’t get approved.
9. A subdivision generally takes 9 months to 1 year
Just like the cost, the time that it takes to subdivide land ultimately depends on a variety of factors like the size of the lot, the improvements needed, and the location.
However, generally speaking, it takes 9 months to 1 year for a two-lot subdivision from the time you start to the point when you obtain a title.
10. Larger subdivision projects are likely to increase the value of your lot more than smaller ones
In general, larger subdivision projects create more value than smaller projects.
So, a three-lot subdivision is more valuable than a two-lot subdivision.
This is because you’ll have an additional buyer coming in and paying you for a piece of the pie.
Each person will see the value of the land that they’re getting and be willing to pay you something for it.
The further you divide up your land, the more you’ll profit from it.
That said, you should be careful not to make the lots too small.
You want to find the optimal size when you subdivide land that makes your lots attractive to buyers.
Half-acre and quarter-acre lots are often too small to be desirable for buyers.
You need to find a happy medium for your area to ensure that everyone gets what they want.
You maximize the number of buyers while also getting the maximum profit possible from the land you own.
Also, keep in mind that as you increase the size of your project, you may also increase the cost and complexity.
Final thoughts
Thinking about subdividing your land?
The process of subdividing land can be long and expensive, but you’ll ultimately profit from it if you do it correctly.
Our advice?
Do your research and don’t skimp on professional help.
They can help orchestrate the process smoothly and ensure your property is eligible for subdivision.
Additional Resources
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And before you buy land, make sure you check out Gokce Land Due Diligence Program. 
If you are looking to sell land, visit our page on how to Sell Your Land.Would you like to receive an email with our latest blog/properties every Thursday?
Disclaimer: we are not lawyers, accountants or financial advisors and the information in this article is for informational purposes only. This article is based on our own research and experience and we do our best to keep it accurate and up-to-date, but it may contain errors. Please be sure to consult a legal or financial professional before making any investment decisions.
Prior to starting Gokce Capital, Erika received a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Southern California and a graduate degree in Urban Policy from Columbia University. She worked as both an architectural designer and engineer in New York before joining the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development.
Erika currently lives in the New York Metropolitan area with her spouse, daughter and cat. She is originally from Chicago and still considers herself a midwesterner at heart.
Erika also loves to read, write and travel (fun fact, she has visited all 50 states and more than 30 countries!). Her new book, Land Investing Mistakes: 11 True Stories You Need To Know Before Buying Land, is now available on Amazon.
thanks for all the valuable information
I’m glad our article was helpful!
I just wanted to sell my neighbor four of my five acres, your information was very helpful. The process seems long and costly. I don’t know if it will be worth it, only to have city planners tell me it’s zoned for something else.
Thank You
Thank you, Randell. I’m glad our article was helpful. We aren’t trying to dissuade you from subdividing, so it may still be worth giving the planning department a call to go over the process,
I was unaware that subdivision would lead to the property owner obtaining more wealth. Your article would be quite helpful for my mother! She’s interested in undergoing such a process, but is quite unsure of what steps to take in the process to help her out with it.
I’m so glad our article was helpful!
I am owner of 30 acres of farm land in Algoma Mississippi, its heirs property in 40 acre plot.
Will eventually own all 40 acres, 2 farm on east and south boundary have subdivided into 2 acre lots- thinking of sub dividing 25 acres and keeping 15.
Can I just sell a neighbor 2 acres without having to provide inter-structures
Hello Robert, you will need to subdivide out the 2 acres before you can sell it, so I would check with the local planning department to see what their rules are regarding subdivisions.
Apply for a boundary transfer; 2 acres of you land adjoining theirs. Have the property line changed to work the 2 acres into their property. Have them pay for the paper work and survey when determining your asking price. Talk to a local surveyor about it.
I have 8 acres of land in Mississippi. My son lives next door on 4 adjoining acres. I want to subdivide my 8 acres into a 6 acre and a 2 acre lot. The 2 acre lot I want to sell to my son. This is a simple “transfer” of land that won’t involve any changes in road access or utilities. What is the best way to proceed?
Hello Ronald, I would start by calling the local county (or city) building and/or planning department to see if they have any rules and regulations around subdivisions. I would then speak with a local land use attorney to draft the appropriate documents.
Can you subdivide land that has not Town and country approval?
Hello Alicia, I would check with the town and/or county planning department to see if they have a formal subdivision process that you will need to go through.
I want to sell 5 acres of land out of my 10acres. How long does it generally take to subdivided 10 acres from grandmother to my granddaughter?
Hello Del Lee, the length of time the process takes really depends on the jurisdiction. I would recommend giving the county/city planning department a call as well as speaking with a local architect.
Great lengthly, detailed article. Motivating and inspiring. Only question i have is, the article says in most cases you can only build only one home per lot but can you buy say 20 acres (1 lot) and build around 10 small cabins or guest houses? (for visitors or for vacation rentals) Thank you!
Hello Phillip, thank you for reading! The answer to your question really depends on zoning regulations. Some areas will allow you to subdivide 20 acres into 10 building lots, others may require larger parcels (and thus fewer units). I would check with your local planning department to see what it permitted on your property.
hi. how concerned should someone be when buying land to subdivide and the land comes with an old house that has asbestos. I heard to knock the house down could be lengthly and costly. I’m in the state of Connecticut.
Hello Jennifer, it is correct that asbestos removal can be costly and will require you to use certain licensed professionals. Before buying the property, you may want to get a few back-of-the-envelope quotes from asbestos-removal specialists in your area.
Hi Erika, thank you for the article. It is very informative. My question is, my husband and I have six children and we own 8.9 acres of land. We were told to split it equally among them. I want to subdivide it between them and give each their own deed. However our house is practically in the middle of the property.
We want the house to stay in case its needed later. I know some of the children would come here and stay but the others will want to sell their portion.
Can you give me any suggestions? Thank you!
Hello Evelyn, I would first start by speaking with the local planning office. There are often regulations on how you can subdivide the property (i.e. each lot will need to be a certain size as well as have access requirements). Once you know what is possible based on the subdivision code, you can think about how to plan out the subdivision to meet your needs.
Thank you Erika. I will do that.
Hi i own 10 acres of land and my neighbor wants to purchase 5 acres closest to him to keep anyone from moving close later on. If he doesnt care about utilities or anything would this be a cheaper subdivision? I know it would still have to be surveyed but what else?
Hello Jacqueline, you should check with your local city or county to see what their subdivision code requires and what materials you would need to submit to them for approval.
Hello Erika, I have a property in Texas. its area is about 2.4 acre. I want to subdivide it with mutual driveway. So, I want to can I do this?
Hello Bilal, I would recommend speaking with the city and county planning department to see if a subdivision would be allowed under their subdivision code.
How do you find an investor willing to invest money to subdivide a lot and built houses in our 1 1/2 acres lot that was in expensive location in California. I am an elderly woman that wants to do this so I can pay off my morgage and at the same time be able to live in the same house.
Can you please give me an advice.
Thank
Hello Susan, unfortunately, I’m afraid I cannot help you find an investor, but you may want to call your local planning department to see if they can give you the names of a few companies working in your area. I would also check that you are allowed to subdivide your land under the county subdivision code.
We want to divide our lot in half to sell one to a family member. no improvements will be necessary as the lot is on a paved road and there is an entrance to the lot for her section. The water, gas and electric will be added as well for her to place a home on it.
Will this be a costly endeavor?
Hello Jo, it depends on your jurisdiction, but the subdivision approval process will come with a cost. However, if it is just a subdivision (that is you are not bringing or connecting any utilities to the properties), it may not be that pricey. I would give your building department a call to see what fees they charge and also see which professionals you may need to hire to help you with the process.
My dad owns 2.3 acres and wants to purchase to two pre-fab homes for my brother and I to live on the property will we have to sub-divide for this?
Hello Regina, it really depends on what zoning allows. In many areas, you can only build one home on a property so you would need to subdivide. I would recommend speaking with the local planning department to confirm.
Hi Erika,
we have a lot that just split into 2 parcels (Port Charlotte Fl). What can we do to obtain the new titles for both lots?
thanks,
Hoan
Hello Hoan, you would generally need to record two new deeds with the legal description for both properties. I would recommend speaking with a local real estate attorney.
Erika, Your information is very helpful. I live in a growing city named, Maumelle, in Arkansas. I own almost 14 acres in the city with two dwellings on it. It is now two separate homes w/acreage side by side. They are building all around me so I know there is a need for homes. I have all the utilities already in place. I do not have any restrictions on my property. Is there any one in my State that you would recommend to discuss the matter with to move forward. I would like to subdivide the land and stay in one dwelling on the property. Thank you.
Hello Shirley, unfortunately, I cannot recommend anyone, but you may want to start with the county planning and/or building departments. Best of luck with your project!
Thanks a lot once again for giving me more information about subdivision of a parcel of land that I didn’t know,I will keep consulting you more for more information, thanks Yours faithfully OYORO Felix
Hi Erika,
My neighbor and I want to purchase the land between us, the owner died, and we just don’t want anyone new to buy it and build on it, we want to split the land in half and just have our properties larger. There is a small house on the land, we intend to tear it down, split the cost. Would you say the first thing for us to do is call the city planning/zoning dept. and go from there? The executor of the will has contacted me recently to ask if we want the land. We didn’t think it would be such a process involved, but we certainly want what’s right. Is there anything else we can do more quickly to own and split the land?
Hello Hilda, yes, I would recommend speaking with the city planning department to see what the subdivision process entails. You can also ask if they have a quick option available.
Hello Im in the city of Toronto Canada ,I have lived here for 27 year . I have tow house on a 1/2 acre land I live and rem a small cake business in my house. The other house I rent out. Over the last couple years ,Ive gotten myself in a bad private mortgage . I don’t want to leave but the only want the get out of this dept. If I sell the front house , this would be my way out of this mess . No body seems to be able to tell me If I can sever the land . Only because one house is behind the other and not side by side. All I need the know if it is possible before spending tons of money.
Please Help Thanks Rhonda
Hello Rhonda, it would depend on whether the mortgage covers both homes. I would recommend speaking with your lender and an attorney. Sometimes lawyers are willing to offer free 30-minute consultations, so I would try calling a few in your area to see if they can speak to you briefly before charging you.
Great site Erika,
I wish to divide/sell the back half of my rural 5-acre parcel and keep the front half where my house is located. Is it better to have access the back with an easement or include a fee simple strip of land running up the side boundary line of my front half the same width and area an easement would be? pros & cons perhaps?
Thank you,
Hello Larry, I would recommend speaking with a real estate attorney and also the local planning and building department (to ensure that utilities can be drawn to the back property). In my experience, however, a fee simple strip of land would be cleaner.
Erika,
I live in California I am trying to buy a building that comes with 7 acres cut from 80 Akers property, if the property that I am buying has utilities already it will make easier the division of the Akers?
Hello Angie, yes, it will likely make it easier to get approval for the subdivision if both new properties have road access and access to all utilities, but I would recommend speaking with your local planning office.