One of the most common questions a home builder hears is, “can you build a custom home on my lot?” The answer to whether you can build on your lot is, “it depends”. Owning a lot is an exciting first step toward building your dream home, but it doesn’t automatically mean your land is ready for construction. There are several important factors to consider before breaking ground. Everything from zoning restrictions and access to utilities, to terrain, soil quality, and the type of home you want to build can influence whether you can build on your lot. It also impacts how complex and expensive the process might be. Understanding these variables early on can save you time, money, and unnecessary stress.
Building On Your Own City Lot
If you already own a lot in the city, you have some major advantages! Your city services like water and sewer are already nearby and getting gas, electricity, and internet to the lot won’t be an issue. Your lot will have existing information attached to it, such as whether it is in a flood plain and what type of zoning is present.
Building on your city lot will be a matter of reviewing the details with your builder to confirm that your lot zoning accommodates your building plans.
- Are there any zoning or development issues that impact whether I can build on my lot?
- Does my lot have restrictions on setbacks and lot coverage?
- Does my lot have access to the road and adequate street frontage?
- Are city services such as water and sewer available for my city lot?
- Will my lot size and shape accommodate the style of home I want?
- Does my lot slope and soil quality impact my construction choices?
Questions To Ask If You Build On Your Own Acreage
If you already own acreage and are planning to build on your lot in the Regional District, you’ll need to do your due diligence. Many lots are unsuitable for building and an expert will be able to help you determine why.
Slope: an ideal lot will have a relatively flat surface. That doesn’t mean that having a slope makes your custom home impossible. Sometimes, your lot slope and home design can work together, like in the case of a house plan that features a walk-out basement. Other times, the slope on your lot may be unsuitable for building. If you haven’t yet purchased your lot, talk to Lithium One Homes first. If we know what style of home you want to build on your lot we can provide an informed opinion.
Services: in some cases, your acreage will have access to city services. If not, then your lot will require both a water source and excellent drainage for your well and wastewater disposal system. This is not a given in various areas surrounding Prince George. Some communities are known for needing wells that are several hundred feet deep. Other areas are so wet they do not have drainage suitable for a septic tank, which then impacts where your house can be situated.
Ask your home builder how to start verifying these important factors if you want to build on your lot. They’ll be able to help you find out whether your lot has a community well system. Your builder will also be able to arrange a visit from a registered on-site wastewater practitioner as needed. This will help determine whether it is viable to build on your lot.
Soil: an ideal lot will have good soil stability. This means that it isn’t too heavy with clay or sand. Without a good balance, construction may be infeasible based on the extra expenses required to prepare the site for your foundation. Too much clay could have a negative impact on your foundation and drainage. It could require soil stabilization work or specialized footings or a different septic system.
Too much sand could also have an impact on your foundation due to shifting and erosion. It could require different base preparation or footings. Talk to our team at Lithium One Homes if your lot has other soil types! We can discuss other solutions that might work well when you build on your lot, such as a pier foundation or a slab on grade foundation.
What Else Might Impact Whether You Build On Your Lot
One final factor that can impact if you can build a custom home on your lot: financing! Your bank may have different processes for purchasing an empty lot compared to purchasing a lot with a home on it already. The options for financing may be more limited and the size of the down payment required may be higher than usual.
Even if you own your lot already, the bank may have financing limitations for building a custom home. Ask Lithium One Homes to help you understand the process involved in financing a custom home build.
Discuss Your Building Plans With Lithium One
Are you planning to build on your lot? Before you get too far into the process, you should ensure your lot is suitable for the home you’re planning. That’s where we come in. Our team at Lithium One Homes strives to help you design a custom home that fits your lot and your budget. We’re experienced and communicative so you can trust us to help you turn your dream home into reality.
