It depends. There are several factors that determine the land size you need for a new home. But generally, an acre would be enough for a single-family house. That’s if you don’t need extra space for recreation, domestic animals, or a garden.
So, what factors affect the land size you need to build a home? Let’s find out.
Your Preferences
The land size for your new home largely depends on your preferences. For example, how much land do you want to own?
If you want a large lot, then you’ll need more land. On the other hand, if you’re content with a small lot, you’ll need less.
While an acre is enough for a single-family home, some prefer more yard space. Others only want a space for their cars and nothing else.
When determining the land size for a new home, ask yourself the following:
- What is the price tag, and can you afford it?
- How close would you want to be to your neighbors?
- Would you like to raise domestic animals?
- Would you want extra space for other things, like farming?
- Do you prefer a surrounding full of nature or a manicured lawn?
Depending on your answers to these questions, you can determine the amount of land size for your home. Also, take a tour of a few lots of various sizes to get a better sense of what feels okay.
Zoning Requirements
Zoning requirements can affect the size of land suitable for building a home. Local laws may restrict the number of homes allowed in certain areas. They may also impose other restrictions, such as property lines and setbacks. As a result, they influence the subdivision of land and, ultimately, the size of each lot.
The local zoning board can provide more information about the restrictions in your area and what kind of land size is suitable for building a home. Remember existing properties can be grandfathered in. So, speak to the officials to ensure you are not missing important exceptions.
Utility Availability
While you might not think about it often, utility availability also affects the land size of a home. For example, American Planning Association advises that lots should have the following sizes based on utility availability.
- When public sewer and water are lacking, the parcels should be 1/2 acre
- When one of the two ( public water and sewer) are lacking, it should be 1/4 acre
- When both public utilities are present, the lots should be less than 1/4 acre
However, each state and local municipality has different regulations. Some might allow smaller parcels, while others require larger ones. Do your research and find out the utility availability in your area and what size lot is suitable according to local regulations.
To give you some context, the average size of new single-family homes subdivisions stood at 0. 20 acres in 2018. That’s 8,567 square feet. With that in mind, it’s worth mentioning that the average size of a parcel for a custom-built home is about an acre or close to.
Finding A Parcel for Your New Home
Now that you know what affects the land size you need for a new home, the next step is to find the perfect parcel. You can start by checking with us at Land Soar.
We work aggressively to acquire vacant land throughout the United States. Our goal is to provide an easier way for people to buy the land of their choice at an affordable price. You can find our current listing and let us help you find the perfect place for your new home.
Click to see land for sale.