How to Build a House on Agricultural Land

A piece of farmland may make the perfect site for a country home.

In most respects, it seems building a house on agricultural land is no different from building a house anywhere else. Then you look at the few aspects of the building process that require special consideration.

1. Contact your local building or planning department to determine if a zoning change is required to build a residence on your land. There may be a fee associated with re-zoning the land or removing it from a Conservation Reserve Program.

2. Investigate the options for supplying water to your new home. Agricultural land is often far from city or rural water supplies. If so, a well is often the best option. If ground water is scarce or unpredictable, you need to consider collecting rainwater or hauling water in and storing it on your property.

3. Measure the distance from the road to your proposed building site. This will allow you to get installation information and cost estimates for electric lines, a phone line and a driveway.

4. Contact your local planning department or building inspector to initiate the building permit process. Residential construction on agricultural land may require additional permitting information such as erosion control measures, runoff control and soil tests for approving the septic system.

5. Install the driveway, electric supply and any other services that your contractor will need to access your building site and proceed with the normal construction process.