How to Develop Land for a Subdivision

Once you learn how to develop a subdivision, you will want to get in touch with the engineers that can help you make the blueprints that you need to set everything in motion. Developing a subdivision takes time. The proper codes must be followed and the city, county or township must approve the blueprints you have designed by an engineer before you start. Have the soil tested for contaminates and stability before you have any blueprints drawn up. This is important to do before you even start selling the one acre lots to potential owners.

Things You'll Need

• Enough land for at least 20 separate one-acre lots
• Road crews
• Sewer and water crews
• Land Surveyors
• Gas main crews
• Electric main crews
• Engineer to draw the blueprints
• Construction crews to build the first house
• Land crews

Instructions

1. Have the soil tested for contaminates. After the soil passes the test with no contaminates, you need to have the surveyor and engineer create the blueprints. They will place the roads, individual one acre lots and where the water, sewer, electric and gas lines will be laid. This process can take up to a year to complete. You can have input into this process, but the engineers will have the last say as to what can and cannot be done. Note: if you are not connecting to a city water system, the water supply for the individual lots must be tested and documented. The water supply must be an endless supply. However, most subdivisions connect to a existing water supply through the city water system.

2. Contact the land crews when the engineers are done with the blueprints and have registered them with the township, city or county where the subdivision will be developed. The land crews are going to level out the land and take down any trees and other structures that are in the way of the new subdivision. They raze the land so that the other crews can come in and start their work.

3. Contact the road crews after the land crews are done. The road crew will come in and make the roads for the subdivision. They will leave the roads dirt until all the other crews have completed their work. They make the roads through the area and mark the sides where the property starts.

4. Contact the gas, electric, water and sewer crews when the road crews are done. These crews will start digging and installing the piping and lines for all of the utilities needed for each acre lot. This process can take up to six months depending on how many crews each one has and the weather conditions.

5. Contact the road crews again. This time they will come in and put down the roads with either black top or cement. This process can take about a month depending on the weather and the amount of roads you have.

6. Build the first house after all the crews are done installing pipes and lines to each lot. Most subdivisions have a agreement that details the size and type of home that can be built. All homes do have to follow these requirements.

Tips & Warnings

• Some private subdivision owners will have the engineers break the subdivision down into phases. They develop phase 1 first and if sales are good, then they develop phase 2 and so forth. Have a lawyer throughout the entire process for all legal needs.

• Never sell any acre lots until the land has been cleared so that people know where the lot lines are and what they will have for room.