The requirements for selling land depend on the purpose the land will be used for eg, grazing, pasture, approval required (AR) for a specific purpose such as building a house, or approval not required (ANR).

Different towns have laws set in place by the planning board that you need to check with first.

The minimum amount of land that can be sold for a specific purpose should also be noted. For example, a building lot it could be as low as .33 of an acre to as high as a minimum of 4 acres. Check with your local town for the exact amount of acreage required for selling land.

If the land is to be sold as a building lot, the basics that you will need to complete prior to a sale include (but not limited to):

• Perk test for a well if there is no town water supply
  
• Suitable area for the septic system if there is no town sewer
  
• Lot plans drawn up with boundaries, setbacks, wetlands, driveways etc showing
  
• Basic clearing of the land if it is wooded so that prospective buyers can safely inspect the site
  
• Negotiation with a realtor
  
• Lawyer costs for preparing a new deed if land is being carved up, or transferring an existing deed

The cost to prepare the land for sale is approximately $10K depending on which state you live.

Selling land for commercial purposes has more rigorous and stringent requirements to ensure the land is not being used for hazardous purposes or businesses inapropriate for the community.

The time to prepare land for sale can be from 6 months to one year from the time you decide to sell. Commercial approval can take even longer if there are objections or suggestions made for changes to your plans in order for approval to be made.

If you have not sold land before, seek the assistance of a realtor with land sales experience.