Property Search Requirements: Finding Land for Your Wolf Home

People often ask us if we help with property or land search. We don’t, but we can help guide you in your property search. Here are some things to think about when looking for undeveloped land, or a residentially developed property to add an ADU (accessory dwelling unit) to.

For the piece of property, some things to consider are slope, existing trees, wetlands, utilities, and the zoning and land-use code of the jurisdiction. Check out our delivery and setup page to see what is included in our standard package versus what would be a sitework add-on. With that in mind, consider the following when picking a property you would like to add a Wolf home to.

Slope and elevation

We prefer flat land, but some slope is manageable for delivery. A slope steeper than 20% becomes a challenge that can make the development infeasible. Steep slopes trigger a requirement for a geotechnical report to evaluate soil conditions and drainage patterns. This determines whether the slopes are stable enough for the proposed development. Based on the findings of this report, there could be additional requirements for your development, for example a taller foundation wall height or a specialized stormwater system. (For what a steep delivery looks like when it does work, browse our case studies.)

Tree coverage

The site can be forested, but large tree removal isn’t something we handle ourselves. We can refer you to a specialized tree removal company, but the related cost would be outside your Wolf project cost. Some jurisdictions also require tree protection. This requires us to protect root zones around larger trees, and the larger the tree, the larger the circumference area where we cannot place a home.

Wetlands and environmental considerations

Make sure to assess any environmental factors that may affect the property. This includes potential issues with protected habitats, wetlands, or endangered species that may require additional permits or restrictions on development. Also consider any potential contamination or hazardous materials on or near the property. If wetlands exist, there are typically greater setback requirements that affect house placement. This could also require additional delineation, soil testing, surveys, and so on.

Utilities

For utility connections, we connect to what is existing on site, whatever that might be. If utilities are not established on site, we can help you establish new systems and connections as needed (city sewer and water, or septic and well). For any new system, we apply for permits, and any applicable fees would be added to the System Development Charges of the project. If a septic and/or well is needed, we can add that to your Wolf permit and site-work costs. We hire subcontractors for new system designs and installations. If you hire us for professional permit services, we’ll navigate finding subcontractors and coordinate all the details from there. If the project requires new city connections from the street brought onto the property, we can complete the site work for that too.

Zoning and land use

Every jurisdiction has a municipal or county code, and every zone in that jurisdiction has different rules and regulations. Typically, every jurisdiction has its municipal or county codes available online. If you know your zone, you can read through these codes and zoning restrictions online. Important details to check are:

1. Allowed uses: Does the zoning allow for the type of structure you plan to build, whether it’s a primary residence or a second unit as an ADU, guest house, hardship dwelling, etc.?
2. Setbacks: Assess the size and shape of the property to ensure it can accommodate your building footprint, considering the dimensions of your proposed home, setbacks from property lines, septic system equipment, environmental constraints, and existing structures.
3. Other restrictions: Easements, wildfire interface areas, soil types, and forest practice moratoriums. If there are easements, confirm the setback from the easement. If there is a wildfire interface area, confirm the related restrictions, requirements, or setbacks. If this is the primary residence, verify whether there is a minimum square footage for the primary residence in that zone. Also, if the site is involved with an HOA (homeowners association), they need to approve the new build as well (see Can your HOA stop you from building an ADU in Washington?).

Finally, we always recommend calling the city or county planner to get their input. They ultimately have the final say on what is allowed on the property, so checking with them prior to purchase or starting a project is always the best course of action. You can typically schedule a free consultation with a planner at your local jurisdiction. Our county-by-county ADU rules guides are a good place to start before that call.

We don’t find properties for you, but once you have a lot in mind, we can look at it with you. When you’re ready, request a free property evaluation and we’ll check slope, trees, utilities, and zoning on that address, ideally before you buy.