Contact the county/city zoning department. Tell them that you want to know if you can split the lot. They will check into it for you. Who knows, it’s possible that it already is and the owner doesn’t know. The county/city has zoning requirements that each lot must adhere to with regards to length, width, etc. The zoning office will take measurements and verify that the lot(s), when split, will meet the required standards for the area. They may expedite their investigation if you tell them that you are purchasing the property and need it done quickly.
I purchased a home marketed as a “double” lot and was told by the realtor that I wouldn’t be able to get zoning info until after the purchase. I believed him, but found out that wasn’t true. I have to apply for a variance, because the extra lot that I have is 10 feet too small in width. However, in your case, if the county/city zoning dept gives you the ok, they will send instructions and an application to get it done. You have to pay for a survey, and I believe an application fee. Hope I’ve helped you.
I have found a triplex that has 3 seperate houses on it. It is a rectangular lot (Long) with one house on one side and two houses on the other. It looks to be a splitable lot, but I would like to make sure before I close the deal. It cashflows either way, but by splitting the lot I can sell the one house for $225,000 and the other (now) duplex for $250,000-$295,000. Purchase price is $310,000. Where would I start?
In addition to the other suggestions, check to see if there are protective covenants. A developer I know bought property consisting of several lots of several acres each. He planned to subdivide the lots, but when he started to go forward, a homeowner brought suit against him and the court stopped him dead in his tracks. The protective covenants precluded subdividing.
Re: How do I split a lot? - Posted by michaela-ATL
Posted by michaela-ATL on January 09, 2003 at 08:11:01:
go to the zoning dept. and find out what the zoning in your area is. And also what the size requirement is for that zoning. They can give you that on the spot. If the lots are too small, then you can immediately eliminate the idea.
For example, here R4 means a m/m of 70’ (roadfrontage) x 150’ (depth). R5 means 50’x125’. So, if i had a 50’ wide lot in an R4 neighborhood, i wouldn’t be able to split it up from another property, unless i got some kind of variance, which could be difficult.