01 Free tool
Land Budget Worksheet
The listing price is the first price tag. Making the land livable is the second, and it has more lines than most buyers expect: survey and title, clearing and fill, a driveway and culvert, a well, septic and power, permits and impact fees, and the taxes you pay while you wait to build. Answer what you know; the total updates as you go.
DirtWise
Land budget worksheet
Marion County
| Buying the land | |
|---|---|
| The land itselfYour price | $45,000 |
| Boundary surveyDirtWise 2026 planning range, not a bid | $800 to $2,500 |
| Owner's title insuranceFlorida promulgated rate, Rule 69O-186.003, F.A.C. | $259 |
| Closing, settlement and recordingDirtWise 2026 planning range, not a bid. Deed stamps (s. 201.02, F.S.) are customarily paid by the seller. | $500 to $1,200 |
| Site work | |
| Clearing: mulch a half-acre homesite and driveDirtWise 2026 planning range, not a bid | $1,800 to $3,500 |
| Access | |
| Gravel driveway, up to 200 ftDirtWise 2026 planning range, not a bid | $2,000 to $6,000 |
| Culvert and county right-of-way permitDirtWise 2026 planning range, not a bid | $1,500 to $4,500 |
| Water, septic and power | |
| Well, pump and pressure tankDirtWise 2026 planning range, not a bid. Neighboring wells in Marion run 95 to 140 ft, from our parcel Ledgers. | $5,500 to $9,500 |
| Septic system, conventionalDirtWise 2026 planning range, not a bid | $7,000 to $12,000 |
| Power extension, under 300 ftDirtWise 2026 planning range, not a bid | $1,200 to $3,500 |
| Permits and fees | |
| Septic permit and site evaluation (FDEP)DirtWise 2026 planning range, not a bid. FDEP has permitted septic systems since July 1, 2021. | $600 to $1,500 |
| Well construction permitDirtWise 2026 planning range, not a bid. Issued by the water management district. | $100 to $500 |
| Building permit and plan reviewDirtWise 2026 planning range, not a bid | $1,500 to $5,000 |
| Impact feesMarion County education impact fee, effective 2024-07-01. Other components not included. | $4,307 |
| Contingency | |
| 10 to 15% on site work, access and utilitiesRock, soil and weather move these lines more than any other | $1,900 to $5,850 |
| Land and site work, before the house | $73,966 to $105,116 |
| Every year until you build | |
| Property taxes on vacant landDirtWise 2026 planning range, not a bid: 1% to 2% of the price. Check the county millage and the assessed value. | $450 to $900/yr |
Planning ranges, not bids. Soil, access, rock and season move every line. Lines marked with a statute or fee schedule are computed from it; the rest are 2026 quote ranges from our coverage counties. The pros directory gives written quotes.
FP Read before you trust any total
What no worksheet can price
Limestone under the sand
Much of north central Florida sits on karst. Rock raises well drilling and septic excavation costs, and a site evaluation is the only way to know.
Title problems on old lots
Gaps in the chain of title on decades-old subdivision lots can need a quiet title action before anyone will insure the sale.
A road that exists only on the plat
If the platted road was never built, you may be paying to build it, or you may not get a building permit at all.
Utility deposits and hookups
Electric co-ops and water utilities can ask for deposits and membership fees on top of the extension cost.
Hurricane season
Crews, materials and inspections slow down after a storm, and a stalled build keeps your holding costs running.
Insurance once the house is up
Homeowner and flood insurance in Florida depend on the roof, the elevation and the flood zone. Get quotes before you design.
Every service a land project needs, by countyWhat septic really costs in Marion CountyAcreage Reality Check