Land for Sale in Lee County, FL
Lee County is Florida's Fort Myers and Cape Coral area on the Gulf Coast, with 760,822 residents (2020 census) and one of the best-known platted-lot markets in the country, Lehigh Acres. Thousands of small lots are sold here, and whether a given lot has water, sewer, drainage and a legal building site varies a lot. This guide covers what to check.
Lee County at a glance
- County seat: Fort Myers. Largest city: Cape Coral. Other cities: Bonita Springs and Sanibel.
- 2020 population 760,822; about 1,212 square miles, more than a third of it water.
- Highways: I-75 (ten interchanges in the county) and State Road 82, which becomes Immokalee Road through Lehigh Acres.
- Hurricane Ian made landfall as a Category 4 storm on September 28, 2022, the deadliest hurricane in the county's history.
- Borders Charlotte, Glades, Collier and Hendry counties; the Caloosahatchee River is the main waterway.
The Lee County land market
Most land searches in Lee County are for residential lots: in-fill lots in Cape Coral and Fort Myers, and the huge grid of small lots in Lehigh Acres east of Fort Myers along SR 82 and SR 884. Lehigh Acres lots are often a quarter to a half acre or more. Larger acreage is found east toward Hendry and Glades counties. Demand follows Southwest Florida growth, hurricane rebuilding and investors buying lots to hold or build.
Water, sewer and septic lot by lot
Utility service in Lehigh Acres varies from lot to lot. Some lots have city or county water and sewer at the street, while others are marked sewer not available and need a well and septic system. Listings are written by sellers, so confirm service directly with Lee County Utilities and the Florida Department of Health: which utility serves the parcel, whether lines are at the property, what connection and assessment costs apply, and what septic permit the lot can get. Check soil and water table, because a lot that cannot pass septic is hard to build on.
Drainage, wetlands and flood
Lehigh Acres has a canal network for drainage, yet street flooding in heavy rain is reported in some neighborhoods, and building on wetlands requires special permits. Hurricane Ian in 2022 showed the storm surge and rainfall risks. Check the FEMA flood zone for the parcel, look at the lot after heavy rain, and ask about elevation requirements and flood insurance cost before you offer.
Zoning, assessments and lot status
Many Lehigh Acres lots carry single-family residential zoning with setbacks, but a lot's buildable status depends on lot size, frontage and whether it meets current rules. Look for pending or unpaid assessments, such as improvement district charges, and for liens or tax certificates. A survey and title search before closing are essential.
Before you buy land in Lee County
- Utilities: confirm water, sewer and power at the parcel and the connection cost, or a well and septic plan.
- FEMA flood zone, drainage behavior after rain and elevation requirements.
- Zoning, setbacks, lot size and whether the lot is buildable.
- Wetlands on or beside the lot.
- Assessments, liens and taxes; order a survey and title search.
Perc tests and septic for raw landLand due diligence checklist
Frequently asked questions
Do Lehigh Acres lots have water and sewer?
Some do and many do not. Confirm service for the specific lot with Lee County Utilities, and price a well and septic system if it is not available.
Is Lehigh Acres land in a flood zone?
It varies by lot. Check the FEMA flood map and the lot's drainage after heavy rain, and get a flood insurance quote before you buy.
What is Lehigh Acres?
A large platted community east of Fort Myers along State Road 82 with thousands of small residential lots.