10 Things to Check Before Buying Land to Build on in Lewis County, Washington
Buying land can be exciting.
But a parcel that looks like a great building site from the road may have significant development challenges.
Before purchasing property in Lewis County, Washington, prospective buyers should investigate the property carefully and understand what will be required to make the site buildable for their intended use.
Here are 10 important things to investigate.
1. Zoning
Start by determining how the property is zoned.
Zoning can affect:
What can be built
Where it can be built
Setbacks
Density
Accessory structures
Agricultural uses
Commercial uses
Development standards
Do not assume that because a property is large enough, you can automatically build whatever you want.
2. Critical Areas
Washington counties regulate certain environmentally sensitive or hazardous areas.
These can include:
Wetlands
Frequently flooded areas
Fish and wildlife habitat
Geologically hazardous areas
Critical aquifer recharge areas
Lewis County's critical-area regulations address these categories and may require additional review or assessment depending on the property and proposed development.
3. Water Supply
Determine how the property will receive water.
Depending on the location, options may include:
Public water
Existing well
New well
Other approved water sources
A property without an existing water connection should be evaluated before assuming that water will be simple or inexpensive to obtain.
4. Septic Feasibility
If the property isn't served by public sewer, septic may be necessary.
That makes soil conditions extremely important.
Lewis County's On-Site Sewage Program evaluates site conditions and soil characteristics and establishes requirements for septic systems.
A parcel should not be considered fully understood until septic feasibility has been investigated.
5. Property Access
How do you get to the property?
Check:
Existing driveway
Road frontage
Easements
Private roads
Road standards
Culverts
Bridges
Emergency access requirements
A property can have plenty of land but still present significant access challenges.
6. Topography
Look at the property's elevation changes.
A steep property may require:
Significant excavation
Retaining walls
Engineered slopes
Additional drainage
More driveway construction
More imported or exported material
A relatively flat building area may be much easier to develop.
7. Soil
Soil affects nearly every part of development.
Soil conditions can influence:
Septic
Foundations
Roads
Building pads
Drainage
Cut and fill
Compaction
Lewis County's development-feasibility guidance notes that soil evaluation may be part of determining whether a parcel can support a proposed development.
8. Drainage
Look at how water currently moves across the property.
Pay attention to:
Low areas
Seasonal water
Existing ditches
Streams
Wetlands
Neighboring drainage
Roadside drainage
Changing the land can change the way water moves.
9. Existing Utilities
Find out where utilities are located.
You may need to determine:
Electrical availability
Water
Sewer
Gas
Communications
Existing utility easements
The distance between existing infrastructure and the proposed building site can have a major impact on development costs.
10. Actual Development Costs
Finally, don't budget only for the house or building.
Consider:
Land clearing
Driveway
Excavation
Grading
Septic
Well
Utilities
Stormwater
Foundation preparation
Materials
Permits
Engineering
Testing
Hauling
A cheap piece of land isn't necessarily a cheap piece of land to develop.
Consider a Site Feasibility Review Before You Buy
Lewis County specifically provides development-feasibility resources for property owners trying to determine whether a parcel is buildable.
The county notes that determining whether a parcel is buildable can be complicated and depends on multiple variables. For an official determination, the county recommends a Master Site Review based on a specific development proposal.
Rockridge Can Help With the Site-Development Side
Rockridge General Engineering & Excavation works throughout Lewis County and Cowlitz County on excavation and civil site-development projects.
If you're considering purchasing property and want to understand the physical development challenges, having an experienced contractor review the proposed site-development scope can be valuable.
Before you buy land, understand what it will take to develop it. Contact Rockridge General Engineering & Excavation to discuss your project.
Always verify current zoning, permitting, septic, critical-area, access, and other requirements with the applicable county or regulatory agency.
