10 Things to know for interested land Buyers in Florida

10 Things to know for interested land Buyers in Florida

An article from IDSupra reported that there are ten things to know for interested land buyers in Florida. Land development in Florida is believed to be a complicated process because of its vast coastline, its interconnecting waterways and other sorts of land formations; it is protected by state and/or federal rules. The development is stated as challenging because there is a continuous change in its regulations. It is included in the ten things is the fact that there are 3.8 million acres reported as conservation land in the state, it requires variation permitting than non-conservation land, and that process took much longer or at least in one year.

The State of Florida is in the process of changing and developing land planning, conservation of land, protection of its environment, and real estate that is handled by both its state and local governments these factors are important for interested people who want to invest in Florida real estate.

In today’s time the State of Florida has an approximately 3.8 million acres of uplands owned and managed including 500,000 acres of conservation easements. These lands are usually used as a recreation or for conservation purposes that is continually protected by the Constitution of Florida.

Lands that is no longer needed by the state is offered as a lease to state agencies, state universities, etc., and if they won’t accept this then the land is made to local governments. This process is decided in the State of Florida. However, if those local governments don’t buy the tract chances are the State will sell this property for the public.

10 Facts to know for those interested in Florida land and real estate:

1.       The State of Florida has an approximately 3.8 million acres of conservation land that is leased by the Division of State Lands to agencies in the state or the local government. They manage things like some parks, preserves, forests or recreation areas.

2.       Aside from its conservation the Florida Division of State Lands also leases non-conservation lands to agencies and local governments like college campuses, state prisons and government office buildings.

3.       The uses of the land or its management are required legally for uplands that are under lease from both conservation and non-conservation and the State of Florida.

4.       For conservation and non-conservation land, the land requirements will not require the same thing under Florida law.

5.       To acquire a land it will take a one year period for conservation property for the submission of plan (from time of lease) and the approvals of the following such as the Department of Environmental Protection, a Florida water management district, and some Florida Natural Areas Inventory and/or Division of Historical Resources and the Division of Lands are needed.

6.       For conservation lands in Florida. Land management must meet the Florida Statute Sections 253.034(5) and 259.032(10), and the agency rule requirements. In contrast, for non-conservation land, it must be submitted on a Division form (if you are familiar to this then it’s not an absolute requirement.)

7.       There are a lot of changes that has been made in land use or managements activities, for those who are included in the ARC’s list that are approved Interim Management Activities or additions to the Optimum Planning Boundary, may be allowed without undergoing any review by the ARC or by just posting on the ARC website as a minor plan amendment. In regularly scheduled meeting it is agreed that more substantive changes must be presented.

8.       Over 160 acres of Land Management Plans for parcels should be presented for the recommendations of the Acquisition and Restoration Council (ARC).

9.       For Parcels Land Management Plans that are below 160 acres may use a form developed by the Division.

10.   Most conservation land’s in the states are manage by the following:

·         Florida Forest Service

·         Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC)

·         DEP’s Division of Recreation and Parks (DRP)

·         DEP’s Office of Greenways and Trails (OGT)

·         DEP’s Office of Coastal and Aquatic Managed Areas (CAMA)

·         Florida’s five water management districts that owns more than 1.5 million acres, that are managed to protect the potable water supplies as well also to provide outdoor recreation favourable attainment goals:

·         Northwest Florida Water Management District (NWFWMD)

·         South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD)

·         Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD)

·         St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD)

·         Suwannee River Water Management District (SRWMD)

As discussed in an earlier post, St. John’s River Water Management District is considered as selling of surplus land for private buyers. This news is still being debated whether or not the others will follow what St. John’s did, but because of financial problems it seems that this kind of lands will be favourable in the future.