Sell Land with Permits or Plans in Florida

Updated November 6, 2026 by SWFL Land

Yes, you can sell Florida land with approved building permits, permits still in review, site plans, blueprints or engineering, and you can also sell it with no plans at all. We buy Florida land with approved permits, permits in review, blueprints or no plans, including lots where construction never started, projects that stalled after a contractor left, and parcels with a site plan or environmental permit already in hand. SWFL Land (Libera Capital Group LLC) is a direct cash buyer, not a listing agent. You usually get a written cash offer within 24 hours, we close in 7 to 21 days through a licensed Florida title company, there are no commissions or fees, we pay standard closing costs, and you can sell as-is from anywhere. Call (239) 686-0823 or request a cash offer online.

This page is general information about Florida land, not legal or tax advice. For advice on your situation, talk to a Florida attorney or the title company handling your sale.

What permits and plans can come with Florida land?

“Permits” can mean several different approvals from different agencies. Each one follows its own rules when the land is sold.

Item	Issued or prepared by	Does it stay with the land?
Building permit	County or city building department	Tied to the property and a named contractor; a new owner usually needs a change of contractor or a new permit
Permit application in review	Building department	Usually must be updated with the new owner and contractor; can lapse if abandoned
Site plan or development order	County or city planning and zoning	Usually tied to the parcel, subject to its own conditions and expiration terms; check the local code
Environmental Resource Permit (ERP)	FDEP or a water management district	Transferable by request under Rule 62-330.340, F.A.C.
Septic permit	FDEP Onsite Sewage Program (often through the county health department)	Depends on the permit type and whether it has been used; check before closing
Impact fee credits	County, city or special district	Assignable and transferable under s. 163.31801(10), F.S.
Blueprints, engineering, surveys	Architect, engineer, surveyor	The paper can be handed over; the right to use the design depends on the design professional’s agreement

Do building permits transfer to a new owner in Florida?

Generally not automatically. A Florida building permit is issued for specific work at a specific property, with a specific contractor (or an owner-builder) responsible for it. When the land is sold, the new owner usually has two choices:

Change of contractor. Most building departments have a change of contractor or “transfer of permit” process. For example, Charlotte County requires a notarized form signed by the property owner, a new permit application from the new contractor, and a new Notice of Commencement for larger projects. Rules, forms and fees vary by county and city.
New permit. If the existing permit has expired or the buyer wants a different design, the buyer applies for a new permit, often reusing parts of the existing plans if the designer allows it.

Because the details differ by jurisdiction, we check with the local building department during our review. You do not have to arrange a transfer yourself.

How long do Florida building permits last?

The Florida Building Code sets the general rule in Section 105.4.1, and local departments apply it. As reproduced by county building departments:

A permit generally becomes invalid if the authorized work does not start within six months (180 days) after it is issued.
It also becomes invalid if work is suspended or abandoned for six months after it starts.
Work is generally considered “in active progress” when the permit has an approved inspection within 180 days.
Once a permit lapses, a new permit is required before work continues, and the work already in place may have to meet current codes.
Renewal, reissuance and extension fees are set locally. Many departments grant extensions if you ask in writing before the permit expires.

Applications in review can lapse too. Building departments commonly treat an application as abandoned if it sits for 180 days without being pursued in good faith, though some grant extensions on written request. If you have a permit application open, a quick call to the department will tell you its status.

The code edition in force and local amendments can change these details, so confirm the dates for your permit with the department that issued it.

Open and expired permits on land you are selling

Florida changed the law on open and expired permits in 2019 (HB 447, amending section 553.79, Florida Statutes). Under those changes:

A local government may send written notice to the owner and contractor at least 30 days before a permit expires.
An owner may close an open or expired permit by using the original contractor, hiring a different licensed contractor, or acting as an owner-builder where allowed.
An expired permit for work that was substantially completed may be closed without a new permit.
A local enforcement agency may close a permit 6 years after it was issued, even without a final inspection, if it finds no apparent safety hazards.
A local agency may not deny a permit to, or penalize, a later arms-length buyer solely because a previous owner’s permit was never closed.

That last point helps sellers: an old open permit does not automatically block a buyer from getting a new one. The title company or the buyer will still usually run a permit search, and any code liens are handled at closing. See selling land with code liens.

What about impact fees and impact fee credits?

Many Florida counties, cities and districts charge impact fees on new construction to pay for roads, schools, parks, water and sewer. Section 163.31801, Florida Statutes, governs them. Two parts matter to a seller:

Credits for contributions. Under section 163.31801(5), a local government must give credit against impact fees for qualifying contributions toward public facilities, dollar-for-dollar at fair market value, within the same category of fee.
Credits are transferable. Section 163.31801(10) says impact fee credits “are assignable and transferable at any time after establishment,” to another development or parcel in the same impact fee zone or district, or an adjoining zone in the same jurisdiction that benefits from the improvement.

If impact fees were paid on a permit that later expired, whether they apply to a new permit or can be refunded depends on local rules. Gather any receipts or credit agreements you have, and we will factor them in.

Do environmental permits transfer?

Yes, by request. An Environmental Resource Permit from FDEP or a water management district can move to a new owner under Rule 62-330.340, F.A.C. The permittee notifies the agency within 30 days of a change in ownership or control, and the transfer is requested on Form 62-330.340(1). The agency approves it unless the new owner cannot give reasonable assurance it can meet the permit conditions. The former permittee stays jointly and severally liable with the new owner for compliance, which is why the transfer paperwork is handled around closing. An ERP is especially valuable on land with wetlands. See selling wetland property.

Are blueprints, engineering and surveys worth anything?

They can be, but less than owners often hope. Here is how buyers usually see each one:

Architectural plans. Original building designs, including plans and drawings, are protected by copyright as architectural works. Owning a set of blueprints does not always give the next owner the right to build from them. A buyer may need permission from the architect or designer, or new plans.
Engineering and site plans. Drainage, grading, septic design and site work are site-specific and often reusable if the design professional agrees and the rules have not changed.
Surveys. Boundary surveys in Florida follow the standards of practice in Rule 5J-17.052, F.A.C. A recent survey helps the title company and buyer, but many buyers order an updated one.
Soil tests, wetland reports and elevation data. These save a buyer time and money on due diligence, especially on low or wet lots. See selling land in a flood zone.

The biggest value usually comes from an approval that is still active and transferable, such as an ERP, a site plan approval or a building permit with time left on it. Expired permits and old plans mostly show the buyer what was possible.

Selling with permits vs. finishing the approvals first

Option	Pros	Cons
Sell now, as-is, with whatever approvals exist	Fast; no more spending on fees, consultants or extensions	Buyer prices in the work still needed
Finish permitting, then sell	Can attract builders who want a ready-to-build lot	Costs time and money; approvals can still expire before a buyer closes
Build, then sell	Highest potential price	Construction cost, contractor risk and carrying costs
Let permits lapse and sell later	No effort now	Value of the approvals may be lost; taxes and dues keep running

To estimate your net, try the land sale proceeds calculator, or read cash buyer vs. listing vs. tax deed.

How we buy land with permits or plans

Send the address or parcel ID and any permit numbers, plans, surveys or receipts. No plans? That is fine too.
We review the land and the approvals, including permit status, expiration dates and any environmental permits.
Written cash offer, usually within 24 hours, on the land and approvals as they stand.
Title company closes. It reviews title, pays off any liens from the proceeds, and coordinates transfer paperwork where it applies. Sign remotely or in person; funds by wire or check, usually within 7 to 21 days.

Where to Look This Up

County or city building department permit portal. Search the address for issued, expired and in-review permits and inspection history.
County property appraiser. Parcel data, land use code and sometimes a permit history tab. Find your county on our find your county page.
Water management district ePermitting. Search ERPs by location; SFWMD is one example, and each district has its own portal.
County clerk official records. Notices of commencement, code liens and recorded development orders.
Planning and zoning. Site plan approvals, development orders and their expiration terms.
Due diligence. Our Florida land due diligence checklist.

Permits & Plans FAQs

Who buys land with approved permits or plans in Florida?

SWFL Land (Libera Capital Group LLC) buys land with approved permits, permits in review, blueprints or no plans in all 67 Florida counties. Call 239-686-0823 or email info@swflland.com for a written offer, usually within 24 hours.

Does my building permit transfer to the buyer?

Usually not automatically. Most departments require a change of contractor or a new permit for the new owner. Rules vary by county and city.

How long is a Florida building permit good for?

Under Florida Building Code Section 105.4.1, a permit generally becomes invalid if work does not start within 180 days of issuance or stops for 180 days. Extensions are often available if requested before expiration.

Can I sell land with an open or expired permit?

Yes. Under section 553.79, a local agency may not deny a permit to a later arms-length buyer solely because a prior owner’s permit was not closed.

Are impact fee credits transferable in Florida?

Yes. Section 163.31801(10) makes them assignable and transferable within the same impact fee zone or district, or an adjoining one that benefits.

Can the buyer use my blueprints?

Possibly. Building designs are protected by copyright, so the buyer may need the architect’s or designer’s permission. Hand over what you have and let the buyer sort it out.

Do you buy land with no plans or permits?

Yes. We buy land with no plans just as we buy land with approvals. See what’s my lot worth for the factors that drive value.

Can I sell a lot with a half-built project?

Yes. We buy land with started foundations or stalled construction. The title company checks for contractor liens and open permits before closing.

Ready to Sell?

If you have Florida land with permits, plans or a stalled project and want to stop paying for extensions and carrying costs, send us the parcel and what you have. Call (239) 686-0823 or request a cash offer online.

Sell Florida Land with Permits or Plans for Cash