Land for Sale in Jacksonville, FL

Jacksonville is Florida's largest city by population and, since 1968, a consolidated city-county with Duval County. That means one local government covers land that is urban in some places and rural in others, and the zoning and permitting rules apply across it. This guide explains what to check on a Jacksonville lot or acreage and the Florida tax rules that affect a purchase.

Jacksonville at a glance

  • Jacksonville and Duval County consolidated their governments on October 1, 1968.
  • The City of Jacksonville Planning and Development department publishes the zoning code, overlay zoning information and zoning FAQs.
  • Florida's documentary stamp tax on a deed is 70 cents per $100 of the consideration.
  • Florida property appraisers classify land annually as agricultural or nonagricultural, and a return must be filed by March 1 to keep an agricultural classification.

The Jacksonville land market

Because Jacksonville and Duval County are one government, a single set of zoning and permitting rules covers lots in older neighborhoods and larger parcels toward the edges. Buyers look for infill lots, small acreage and development parcels, and many also look at neighboring counties for larger tracts. Compare parcels by the rules that apply to each: the zoning district, utilities and flood zone matter more than the street address.

Zoning and permitting

Zoning in Jacksonville is set by the city, and its Planning and Development department publishes the zoning code, overlay zoning information and answers to frequently asked zoning questions. Before you buy, get the parcel's zoning district and any overlay in writing and check whether your intended use is allowed, whether a rezoning or exception would be needed, and what permits and utility connections the project would require.

Florida deed tax and agricultural classification

Florida charges a documentary stamp tax on deeds of 70 cents on each $100 of the consideration, figured on the full amount, including money paid, the discharge of an obligation and any mortgage assumed (Fla. Stat. 201.02). It is the first cost to add to your closing estimate.

If the land has an agricultural classification, the property appraiser classifies all land in the county each year as agricultural or nonagricultural, and land cannot be classified as agricultural unless a return is filed on or before March 1 of each year (Fla. Stat. 193.461). Buying land with that classification means filing on time and keeping the qualifying use, or the next tax bill will be at the higher value.

Before you buy land in Jacksonville

  • The parcel's zoning district and any overlay from the city.
  • Flood zone and wetland status from the FEMA map and local review.
  • Utilities: whether public water and sewer reach the lot or the plan is a well and septic system.
  • Whether the land has an agricultural classification and your plan to keep it.
  • Recorded legal access and a survey.

How to verify legal access to landLand due diligence checklist

Frequently asked questions

Is Jacksonville the same as Duval County?

Largely, yes. Jacksonville and Duval County consolidated their governments on October 1, 1968, so one government covers both.

How much is the Florida deed tax?

The documentary stamp tax on a deed is 70 cents per $100 of the consideration (Fla. Stat. 201.02).

Do I have to file every year to keep agricultural classification in Florida?

Yes. Land cannot be classified as agricultural unless a return is filed on or before March 1 of each year with the county property appraiser (Fla. Stat. 193.461).

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