There are many things that go into a land development project to create a plan that can be approved and ready for construction.
The following are eight typical land development costs you could expect to see if you ever decide to develop a piece of land.
1) Surveying
2) Design engineering
3) Administrative fees
4) Review fees
5) Infiltration testing
6) Wetlands delineation
7) Site construction
8) Building construction
1. Surveying
Land surveying services would be required to develop an existing conditions plan that would be the base of your land development plan.
Surveying might also be required for stake-out surveys during construction and as-built surveys after construction.
Costs for land surveying can usually range from $1,000 to $5,000 for a site of an average size.
Related: The Land Surveying Process (In 8 Steps)
Related: 8 Common Terms Used in Land Surveying
2. Design Engineering
The services of a civil engineer will most likely be required for the actual design of your proposed land development and associated plans.
The cost for design engineering services can range from $2,000 to as much as $50,000 depending on the size of the project.
3. Administrative Fees
Administrative fees will usually be various application fees required by review agencies to process your plans and associated reports that would be submitted for review.
Most administrative fees are relatively small that range from $20 to $500 although some fees could be as much as $3,000 and more.
4. Review Fees
A review agency would have to pay someone to review your submitted plans for compliance with all applicable regulations.
Review fees can typically range from $1,500 to $8,000.
5. Infiltration Testing
Infiltration testing for a proposed stormwater management system might be required for your project if local regulations require it. Even if you or your civil engineer believe there is zero infiltration on your site, infiltration testing might still be required so that the results can be provided as proof of what infiltration is available on your site.
Infiltration testing for one stormwater management system can typically cost around $2,000.
Related: What Is Infiltration Rate?
6. Wetlands Delineation
If there a reason to believe that wetlands exist on your site that could be impacted by your proposed construction, a wetlands delineation would most likely be required so that the wetlands boundaries can be accurately shown on your land development plans.
The cost associated with a wetlands delineation can vary depending on the size of your site and the amount of wetlands to be delineated.
7. Site Construction
The construction of your approved land development plan is a major cost to consider.
The cost of the site construction for a project can range from $50,000 to $200,000 and more.
8. Building Construction
The building construction is another major consideration in the analysis of total land development costs.
Building construction costs can vary greatly depending on size of the buildings.
Evaluate All Related Costs
There are so many different elements of a land development project that it would be a good idea to evaluate all related costs before deciding to proceed with your project. This is especially the case if having enough funding could be an issue.
