Highlands County, Florida
Sell your land in Placid Lakes for cash
Parcel Buyers buys vacant lots in Placid Lakes for cash, including lots on the county district bill that may have utility water but still need septic approval for a future house. You get a written, no-obligation cash offer within 24 hours, and closings run through an independent title company, typically in about 10 days, with no fees or commissions.
By Parcel Buyers · · Lot figures from the 2026 Florida property tax roll · How we made this page
Quick answers
- Who buys land for cash in Placid Lakes?
- Parcel Buyers is a direct land buyer that makes written, no-obligation cash offers on vacant lots and acreage in Placid Lakes, Highlands County, usually within 24 hours. Sales close through an independent title company, typically in about 10 days, with no fees or commissions to the seller.
- What did vacant lots in Placid Lakes sell for in 2025?
- In 2025, vacant lots in Placid Lakes sold for a median of $16,000 across 145 arm's-length sales; the middle half sold for $13,000 to $22,500.
- How many vacant lots are in Placid Lakes?
- The 2026 Florida property tax roll lists 4,549 vacant residential lots in Placid Lakes; 78% are quarter-acre lots, and the median lot is 0.23 acre.
- How is a cash offer for land in Placid Lakes set?
- We start from recent sales of similar lots nearby, like the 2025 prices on this page, then adjust for water and sewer, road access, flood zone, lot size and any title issues, and for the time and cost of reselling. You get one written number, not a range.
- How do I know a land buyer in Placid Lakes is legitimate?
- A real buyer closes through an independent, licensed title company and never asks you to pay anything up front. We never charge sellers a fee, deposit or closing-cost advance, and the title company pays you by check or wire at closing.
- Who is buying lots in Placid Lakes?
- In 2025, companies bought 37% of the vacant lots that sold in Placid Lakes, including 12% bought by homebuilders. Individuals bought the rest.
- What was the median recorded 2025 sale price by lot size in Placid Lakes?
- The median recorded 2025 sale price for a quarter-acre lot in Placid Lakes was $15,000 across 114 sales.
- Are vacant lots in Placid Lakes in a FEMA high-risk flood zone?
- About 0.1% of vacant lots in Placid Lakes have their center point in a FEMA high-risk flood zone (effective maps dated November 18, 2015). This is map screening, not a determination; check FEMA's Map Service Center for your parcel.
- How many vacant lots in Placid Lakes got a home on the tax roll in 2025?
- 43 vacant lots in Placid Lakes changed from vacant-residential use to a home with new-construction evidence on the 2026 preliminary tax roll.
Local data
Placid Lakes land at a glance
Tax-roll figures cover the Placid Lakes subdivision units (Lake Placid addresses) in Highlands County. Local rules and services are sourced below.
Property addresses here read Lake Placid (97%).
| Vacant residential lots | 4,549 parcels classified vacant residential on the 2026 tax roll [1] |
|---|---|
| Most common lot size | Quarter-acre lot (9,000–13,000 sq ft): 78% of vacant lots; next, half-acre lot at 8%. Median lot: 0.23 acre (10,020 sq ft). [1] |
| Typical assessed value | $13,500 median just (market) value for a vacant lot; the middle half fall between $12,500 and $15,000 [1] |
| Recent lot sale prices | $16,000 median across 145 arm's-length sales of vacant lots in Placid Lakes (Jan 2025–Dec 2025); the middle half sold for $13,000–$22,500 [1] |
| Who bought lots in 2025 | Companies made 37% of those purchases, including 12% by homebuilders; individuals made the rest [1] |
| Owners who live elsewhere | 29% of vacant lots have an owner mailing address outside Florida (most often NY, CA, GA); 9% outside the U.S. [1] |
| Outside the town limits | Placid Lakes is an unincorporated community southwest of the Town of Lake Placid and south of Lake June. County planning administers the county comprehensive plan and the zoning rules in the land-development code. [14],[7] |
| FY 2026-27 district charge | Adopted October 6, 1992, the special benefit district bills $50.00 for each lot, including a partial lot, in FY 2026-27. The county revised that rate on July 15, 2025. [3] |
| District bill stays local | A special benefit district is a mapped county area whose owners share a local bill. The county keeps that money in the district fund instead of the general fund. [4],[5] |
| Water system dates to 1971 | The water system was established in October 1971. A PSC appraisal filed February 27, 2026, lists three groundwater wells, 300,000 gallons of storage, and 2024 use near 0.26 million gallons a day. [2] |
| Sewer plant is very small | That appraisal caps the wastewater plant at 0.015 million gallons a day. It has two lift stations and 15 manholes and serves only a condominium, clubhouse, restaurant and commercial units. [2] |
| Bylaws assign road upkeep to county | Association bylaws approved February 17, 2020, say road, sign, median, right-of-way, and drainage-ditch upkeep is the county's responsibility. The nonprofit association monitors conditions and makes recommendations. [13] |
| Separate vacant fire charge | The FY 2026-27 fire schedule lists $61.45 for a parcel classed vacant. That countywide fire line is not the subdivision district charge. [6] |
| Town utility is a different system | Lake Placid Regional Utilities says it serves the town and nearby county areas. The PSC appraisal identifies Placid Lakes Utilities as the separate company system serving this subdivision. [12],[2] |
| Lake August | The Property Appraiser's table names Placid Lakes units north, southeast, south and southwest of Lake August. The lake is part of how the county distinguishes those units from other parts of the subdivision. [15] |
| 2025 sale price by lot size | The median recorded 2025 sale price for a quarter-acre lot in Placid Lakes was $15,000 across 114 sales. [1] |
| Vacant lots that got a home on the tax roll in 2025 | 43 recorded with new-construction evidence. [1] |
| Years of lot supply at the 2025 building pace | 105.8 years; simple ratio, not a forecast. [1] |
| Owner-type shares | Individuals 66.9%; companies 26.6%; trusts 5.8%; estates/heirs 0.6%; government/associations 0.0%. [1] |
| 2026 so far (Jan-Jun) | 58 recorded vacant-lot sales; median $19,400. [1] |
| FEMA high-risk flood-zone screen | About 0.1% of vacant lots in Placid Lakes have their center point in a FEMA high-risk flood zone (effective maps dated November 18, 2015). This is map screening, not a determination; check FEMA's Map Service Center for your parcel. |
| Springs BMAP small-lot screen | About 0% of located vacant lots in Placid Lakes are 1 acre or less and have their center point in an adopted Florida springs BMAP. |
Pricing
What is a lot in Placid Lakes worth?
In 2025, vacant lots in Placid Lakes sold for a median of $16,000 across 145 arm's-length sales; the middle half sold for $13,000 to $22,500. [1]
These are open-market sale prices. A direct cash offer is usually lower, because a cash buyer closes in days and takes on the time and cost of reselling the lot.
Recorded 2025 sale prices by lot size in Placid Lakes
| Lot-size class | 2025 sales | 2025 median lot sale | Middle half |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quarter-acre lot9,000–12,999 sq ft | 114 | $15,000 | $12,600–$20,600 |
| Third-acre lot13,000–15,999 sq ft | 13 | $15,500 | $12,000–$20,000 |
These are open-market sale prices. A direct cash offer is usually lower, because a cash buyer closes in days and takes on the time and cost of reselling the lot.
See what similar lots sold for
What moves the price in Placid Lakes
The district bill is a yearly cost
Yes. An empty lot here can carry a county district charge every year. For FY 2026-27 the line is $50.00 for each lot, including a partial lot, and the county revised that rate on July 15, 2025. Commissioners adopted the district on October 6, 1992. Its listed work includes flood and erosion control, water and sewer systems, public roads, recreation, mosquito control, security, and a community center. The adopted FY 2026-27 budget for the district is $424,660, up from $423,312 in FY 2025-26. The county describes non-ad valorem assessments as charges for specific services or benefits that appear on the tax bill but are not based on property value. [3],[9],[5]
House lots can have water and no sewer
A house lot can have utility water and still have no public sewer. Placid Lakes Utilities, Inc. is the company system, established in October 1971. A February 27, 2026 appraisal, filed with a Sunshine Water Services Company petition, counts 2,338 water connections, three wells (two 8-inch and one 10-inch), two ground tanks holding 300,000 gallons, and 51 hydrants. Use in 2024 was about 96 million gallons, or 0.26 million gallons a day, about 3,500 gallons a month per connection. The wastewater permit is only 0.015 million gallons a day, and that system serves only a condominium, clubhouse, restaurant and commercial units. A future home may need a septic permit from the county health department. The town's regional utility is a different provider. [2],[11],[12]
A canal lot is not a public ramp
No. A canal beside a lot is not proof of a public boat ramp. The association bylaws give a committee the job of watching the canals and asking owners to report water or wildlife trouble. They do not give every lot a ramp. Highlands County lists public ramps in the Lake Placid area, including Lake June at H.L. Bishop Park, 10 Lake June Clubhouse Road, which has a dock, and Lake Placid, also called Lake Childs, at 3280 Placid View Drive. The deed shows whether a lot actually touches water. [13],[10]
Recent sales are a start, not the offer
Recent sales are a start, not a cash price. Most vacant house lots in this scope are quarter-acre lots, about 78% of measured lots, with a median size of 0.23 acre. For 2025 the roll shows 145 qualifying vacant-lot sales, a median of $16,000, and a middle band of $13,000–$22,500. The middle tax figure is $13,500. Wells, septic, the yearly district bill, road access, and whether a canal is usable can pull two similar lots apart. We check utilities, access, and title before we offer. [1],[2],[3]
Common situations
Selling land in Placid Lakes in these situations
You own a lot and never planned to build
You can sell a vacant lot even if you never planned a house. You do not have to install a septic tank, connect water, or pave a road first. We buy vacant land as it sits, including lots with no water, sewer, or road work. The subdivision's wastewater system serves only a condominium, clubhouse, restaurant and commercial units, so a future house may need a health-department septic permit. County building staff enforce the construction codes. Zoning answers what a lot allows and where a building may sit. Those steps belong to a future house, not to selling the empty lot. [2],[11],[8]
You inherited a lot in an old section
An heir can sell a lot in an old section. The private utility dates to October 1971, so a family file can be decades behind today's district bill. The association is a nonprofit that advises the county. It is not the government that maintains the roads. The title company says which estate papers it needs to insure the transfer. You can sign electronically and close by mail, and payment is by check or wire. Travel to Highlands County is not required. [2],[13]
You live outside Florida
Yes. You can sell from outside Florida. 29% of vacant-lot owners in this scope use a mailing address in another state, and 9% use a foreign address. The yearly district charge and the fire line still show on the tax bill wherever you live. A lot with utility water can still need a septic permit before anyone builds. Liens or back taxes can be paid from the sale proceeds at closing if you agree. You do not have to fly in to ask for an offer. [1],[3],[6],[11]
You mix up the association and the district
The association and the district are not the same. The county district was adopted on October 6, 1992, and the FY 2026-27 charge is $50.00 for each lot, including a partial lot. The owners group is a separate nonprofit. Its 2020 bylaws say the county is responsible for roads, signs, medians, rights-of-way, and drainage ditches, while the association monitors conditions and makes recommendations. The bylaws also allow annual association dues set by its board and membership. Those dues do not replace the county line on the tax bill. [3],[13]
Step by step
How do I sell my land in Placid Lakes?
From your first message to money in hand, with nothing left out. Requesting an offer costs nothing and commits you to nothing.
See every detail of the process-
Tell us about your land
Fill out the short form (about 60 seconds) or email us. A land specialist reaches out to confirm the details, usually the same business day.
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Get your cash offer within 24 hours
We review the property and send a written, no-obligation cash offer within 24 hours. It is a real number, not a range. Take it or leave it, with no pressure either way.
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Sign electronically
If you accept, everyone signs the purchase agreement electronically. There is nothing to print or mail at this stage.
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We inspect, the title company verifies
Our team inspects the land and an independent title company runs a title search for liens or taxes owed. If the land does not pass inspection, you are never charged anything.
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Close and get paid
The title company prepares the closing documents for notarization and issues your funds by standard check, overnight check, or wire transfer. A typical sale closes in 10 days.
Questions
Selling land in Placid Lakes: common questions
Does my lot have public water and public sewer?
Water and sewer are not the same here. The company utility, established in October 1971, reported 2,338 water connections and three wells in a February 2026 PSC appraisal. Its wastewater system is permitted for only 0.015 million gallons a day and serves a condominium, clubhouse, restaurant and commercial units, not subdivision house lots. A new house may need a septic permit from the county health department.
What does the yearly district bill cost?
For FY 2026-27 the county schedule is $50.00 for each lot, including a partial lot. The district was adopted October 6, 1992, and the rate was revised July 15, 2025. A vacant parcel can also show the county fire line of $61.45 that same year. Those charges sit on the tax bill apart from the property-tax millage. The adopted district budget for FY 2026-27 is $424,660.
Is this subdivision inside the Town of Lake Placid?
No. Placid Lakes is an unincorporated community in Highlands County, southwest of the town and south of Lake June. Highlands County Planning and Zoning administers the county comprehensive plan and the zoning parts of the land-development code.
Do owners get a boat ramp or lake access?
Do not assume a ramp comes with the lot. The association watches the canals, but its bylaws do not give every owner a boat ramp. The county lists a public ramp on Lake June at H.L. Bishop Park, 10 Lake June Clubhouse Road, with a dock. Lake Placid, also called Lake Childs, has a county ramp at 3280 Placid View Drive. The deed shows whether your lot touches water.
Can I sell my lot without installing septic?
Yes. You can sell a vacant lot without installing a septic system or hooking up sewer. We buy vacant land that still needs septic or utility work. The wastewater system serves only a condominium, clubhouse, restaurant and commercial units, so a future house may need a county-health-department septic permit. Our only contingency is the land inspection, and a failed inspection costs the seller nothing.
Who answers building and setback questions?
Highlands County separates those jobs. The Building Division handles permits, inspections, construction codes, and contractor licensing. Its site directs questions about allowed uses, setbacks, and where a building may sit to the Zoning Division. Planning and Zoning administers the county comprehensive plan and land-development regulations.
Owner resources
Guides for your situation
- How to Sell Land During a Divorce
Florida land can be sold during a divorce when the people with authority to convey title sign and the sale follows every applicable agreement and court order. Divorce law may treat land as marital even when only one spouse appears on the deed.[1][2] If ownership, signing authority, or the division of proceeds is unsettled, have a Florida attorney and the closing title company resolve those issues before closing.
- Can You Sell Land With a Lien?
Yes. Land with a lien can often be sold, but signing a deed does not by itself erase a valid claim. The lien may need to be paid, released, discharged, or otherwise resolved under the law that applies. With the seller's consent, an approved payoff can come from sale proceeds at closing. If the balance or lien is wrong, dispute it before closing and require proof of the cure.
- Can You Build on a Vacant Lot?
Maybe. A vacant lot is buildable only if the proposed use fits the rules that apply to that parcel and the site can satisfy access, utility, environmental, and permit requirements. Start with the local planning or zoning office, confirm that the parcel is a legal lot, and get a written parcel-specific answer. A zoning label or tax parcel number alone is not approval to build.[1][2]
More places in Highlands County
Your written offer
Get your cash offer
Four short steps, about 60 seconds. We review your property and send a written, no-obligation cash offer within 24 hours. You can take it or leave it.
What happens after you send this
- A land specialist reaches out, usually the same business day, to confirm the details.
- You get a written cash offer within 24 hours: a real number, not a range.
- You decide. Requesting an offer costs nothing and commits you to nothing.
You will never be asked to pay us anything. No deposit, no processing fee, no closing-cost advance.
Nearby areas we buy
- Lake Placid
21,790 vacant lots · 2025 median lot sale $12,500
- Leisure Lakes
5,335 vacant lots · 2025 median lot sale $12,500
- Highlands Park Estates
4,256 vacant lots · 2025 median lot sale $8,500
- Highlands County
50,783 vacant lots countywide
How we made this page
Parcel Buyers is a land-buying company based in Florida. We buy vacant land directly from owners and publish these local pages so owners can see what land in their area is doing before they sell, to us or anyone else. We count the tax-roll figures ourselves from state data, take local rules and fees from the official sources listed below, and use AI tools to help research and draft the text. Every number links to its source, and we update the page when the data changes.
Method and sources
Tax-roll figures cover the Placid Lakes subdivision units (Lake Placid addresses). Source [1] is our own count of the Florida Department of Revenue's 2026 preliminary property tax roll: "vacant residential" means land-use code 000; lot sizes use the land square footage on the roll; values are the county property appraiser's just (market) value as of January 1, 2026; sale prices count only arm's-length sales of a single lot that was vacant when it sold and was still vacant on January 1, 2026 (bulk and multi-parcel deeds removed). Page updated October 20, 2026. Lot-size sale rows use the same qualified 2025 sale cohort and canonical square-foot classes; classes with fewer than 10 sales are omitted. The reviewed 2026 recorded-sale window runs from January through June 2026; unreviewed recent sales are excluded. Flood and springs-BMAP figures screen tax-roll parcel center points, not parcel boundaries. They are aggregate map screens, not flood-zone, insurance, buildability, elevation, septic, or permitting determinations.
- [1] Florida Department of Revenue (data); Parcel Buyers (analysis), Parcel Buyers analysis of the 2026 preliminary Name-Address-Legal (NAL) property tax roll (accessed 2026-10-03)
- [2] Florida Public Service Commission, Placid Lakes utility appraisal filed February 27, 2026 (accessed 2026-10-05)
- [3] Highlands County, Florida, Non-Ad Valorem Assessments FY 2026-27 (accessed 2026-10-20)
- [4] Highlands County, Florida, Non-Ad Valorem Assessment (accessed 2026-10-05)
- [5] Highlands County, Florida, What are Non-Ad Valorem Assessments? (accessed 2026-10-05)
- [6] Highlands County, Florida, Fire Assessment Rates for FY 2026-27 (accessed 2026-10-20)
- [7] Highlands County, Florida, Planning and Zoning (accessed 2026-10-05)
- [8] Highlands County, Florida, Building Division (accessed 2026-10-05)
- [9] Highlands County, Florida, FY 2026-27 Adopted Budget (accessed 2026-10-20)
- [10] Highlands County, Florida, Boat Ramps (accessed 2026-10-05)
- [11] Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Onsite Sewage FAQ - Permitting (accessed 2026-10-05)
- [12] Town of Lake Placid, Utility - Water and Wastewater (accessed 2026-10-05)
- [13] Placid Lakes Home and Property Owners Association, Inc., Home and Property Owners Association bylaws, February 17, 2020 (accessed 2026-10-05)
- [14] Wikipedia, Placid Lakes, Florida (accessed 2026-10-05)
- [15] Highlands County Property Appraiser, Neighborhood Codes (accessed 2026-10-05)