Florida
Sell your land in Putnam County for cash
Parcel Buyers buys vacant lots in Putnam County for cash, including unincorporated lots where future development may require a septic permit from the county health department. 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 Putnam County?
- Parcel Buyers is a direct land buyer that makes written, no-obligation cash offers on vacant lots and acreage in Putnam County, Florida, 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 Putnam County sell for in 2025?
- In 2025, vacant lots in Putnam County sold for a median of $8,900 across 1,222 arm's-length sales; the middle half sold for $5,000 to $18,000.
- How many vacant lots are in Putnam County?
- The 2026 Florida property tax roll lists 51,545 vacant residential lots in Putnam County; 28% are quarter-acre lots, and the median lot is 0.23 acre.
- How is a cash offer for land in Putnam County 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 Putnam County 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 Putnam County?
- In 2025, companies bought 24% of the vacant lots that sold in Putnam County, including 3% bought by homebuilders. Individuals bought the rest.
- What was the median recorded 2025 sale price by lot size in Putnam County?
- The median recorded 2025 sale price for a standard city lot in Putnam County was $6,000 across 410 sales.
- Are vacant lot prices in Putnam County going up or down?
- Vacant lot prices in Putnam County were roughly flat (+4.7%): the median moved from $8,500 across 1,094 recorded sales in 2024 to $8,900 across 1,222 recorded sales in 2025. These are recorded sales, not list prices. From January to June 2026, 336 vacant lots in Putnam County sold at a recorded median of $8,500.
- How much are estimated annual ad valorem taxes on a typical vacant lot in Putnam County?
- A typical vacant lot in Putnam County has estimated 2025 ad valorem taxes about $58 a year; most lots here also pay non-ad valorem charges (listed below).
- Are vacant lots in Putnam County in a FEMA high-risk flood zone?
- About 9.3% of vacant lots in Putnam County have their center point in a FEMA high-risk flood zone (effective maps dated June 16, 2006 to December 7, 2018). This is map screening, not a determination; check FEMA's Map Service Center for your parcel.
- How many vacant lots in Putnam County got a home on the tax roll in 2025?
- 248 vacant lots in Putnam County changed from vacant-residential use to a home with new-construction evidence on the 2026 preliminary tax roll.
Local data
What is land in Putnam County worth?
In 2025, vacant lots in Putnam County sold for a median of $8,900 across 1,222 arm's-length sales; the middle half sold for $5,000 to $18,000. [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 Putnam County
| Lot-size class | 2025 sales | 2025 median lot sale |
|---|---|---|
| Standard city lot7,000–8,999 sq ft | 410 | $6,000 |
| Third-acre lot13,000–15,999 sq ft | 130 | $6,200 |
| Half-acre lot19,000–23,999 sq ft | 84 | $10,700 |
| Sub-half-acre lot16,000–18,999 sq ft | 76 | $7,200 |
| One-acre homesite40,000–45,999 sq ft | 75 | $18,500 |
| Quarter-acre lot9,000–12,999 sq ft | 61 | $5,600 |
| Mini-estate (2-3 acres)70,000–139,999 sq ft | 55 | $30,000 |
| 1.25-acre homesite52,000–57,999 sq ft | 51 | $16,000 |
| Acre-plus46,000–51,999 sq ft | 44 | $20,000 |
| Micro lot2,000–4,999 sq ft | 38 | $3,600 |
| Near-acre34,000–39,999 sq ft | 34 | $17,800 |
| Oversized half-acre24,000–29,999 sq ft | 32 | $13,500 |
| Three-quarter acre30,000–33,999 sq ft | 32 | $15,000 |
| 5-acre ranchette210,000–279,999 sq ft | 26 | $59,500 |
| Estate parcel (3-5 acres)140,000–209,999 sq ft | 18 | $47,000 |
| Acreage tract (10+ acres)435,600+ sq ft | 14 | $132,500 |
| 1.33-acre homesite58,000–63,999 sq ft | 11 | $22,000 |
| 1.5-acre homesite64,000–69,999 sq ft | 10 | $32,400 |
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.
| Vacant residential lots | 51,545 parcels classified vacant residential on the 2026 tax roll [1] |
|---|---|
| Most common lot size | Quarter-acre lot (9,000–13,000 sq ft): 28% of vacant lots; next, micro lot at 20%. Median lot: 0.23 acre (10,020 sq ft). [1] |
| Typical assessed value | $4,800 median just (market) value for a vacant lot; the middle half fall between $3,000 and $9,000 [1] |
| Recent lot sale prices | $8,900 median across 1,222 arm's-length sales of vacant lots in Putnam County (Jan 2025–Dec 2025); the middle half sold for $5,000–$18,000 [1] |
| Who bought lots in 2025 | Companies made 24% of those purchases, including 3% by homebuilders; individuals made the rest [1] |
| Owners who live elsewhere | 34% of vacant lots have an owner mailing address outside Florida (most often NY, GA, NJ) [1] |
| Five municipalities, plus county land | Development in the unincorporated county needs a county permit before work starts. The tax collector also lists five municipalities: the cities of Palatka and Crescent City, and the towns of Interlachen, Pomona Park, and Welaka. [2],[4] |
| 28 road MSBU projects | County commissioners have authorized 28 separate MSBU projects for road maintenance or road paving. An MSBU is a special assessment billed to owners in the neighborhood that benefits from that road work. [5] |
| Solid waste totals, FY 2025-26 | Residential units in the unincorporated area, plus Welaka, Pomona Park, and Interlachen, are assessed $312 ($121 landfill and $191 collection). Palatka and Crescent City are assessed $135, including a $121 landfill charge. [6],[5] |
| Health department septic permits | DEP has run the state septic rules since July 1, 2021. This county stays on the list where the local health department issues the permit. A new residential septic permit is listed at $525 for fiscal year 2025-2026. [8],[9],[6] |
| Tax sale is a lien, not the land | Real estate taxes turn delinquent on April 1, and a 3 percent penalty is added. The certificate sale is held on or before June 1. Bids open at 18 percent and fall by one-quarter of one percent. The certificate is a lien, not the land. [4],[10] |
| Clerk recording and stamp tax | Deeds go into the clerk's official records. The clerk fee schedule effective January 1, 2023 charges $10 on the first page and $8.50 on each added page. State deed stamps are 70 cents per $100 of the price. [14],[15],[16] |
| Flood maps dated February 2012 | FEMA lists February 2, 2012 as the effective map date for unincorporated Putnam and its five municipalities. The county is class 8, with a 10% premium discount in a special flood hazard area and 5% outside it. [18] |
| St. Johns River | The St. Johns River runs 60 miles through Putnam County, from Bostwick to Lake George near Georgetown. Palatka has the county's only traffic bridge across the river. [19] |
| 2025 sale price by lot size | The median recorded 2025 sale price for a standard city lot in Putnam County was $6,000 across 410 sales. [1] |
| Lot sales, 2025 vs 2024 | 2025: 1,222 recorded sales, $8,900 median; 2024: 1,094 recorded sales, $8,500 median. Median +4.7%; count +11.7%. [1] |
| Vacant lots that got a home on the tax roll in 2025 | 248 recorded with new-construction evidence. [1] |
| Years of lot supply at the 2025 building pace | 207.8 years; simple ratio, not a forecast. [1] |
| Owner-type shares | Individuals 73.3%; companies 19.8%; trusts 3.6%; estates/heirs 2.7%; government/associations 0.5%. [1] |
| Typical annual ad valorem taxes | A typical vacant lot in Putnam County has estimated 2025 ad valorem taxes about $58 a year; most lots here also pay non-ad valorem charges (listed below). |
| 2026 so far (Jan-Jun) | 336 recorded vacant-lot sales; median $8,500. [1] |
| FEMA high-risk flood-zone screen | About 9.3% of vacant lots in Putnam County have their center point in a FEMA high-risk flood zone (effective maps dated June 16, 2006 to December 7, 2018). This is map screening, not a determination; check FEMA's Map Service Center for your parcel. |
| Springs BMAP small-lot screen | About 2.9% of located vacant lots in Putnam County are 1 acre or less and have their center point in an adopted Florida springs BMAP. |
Land by town in Putnam County
| Town | Vacant lots | 2025 lot sales | Median 2025 lot sale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawthorne | 3,664 | 68 | $18,000 |
| Palatka | 2,780 | 83 | $13,800 |
| Florahome | 1,845 | 36 | $8,800 |
| Crescent City | 1,306 | 41 | $20,000 |
| Pomona Park | 878 | 23 | $20,000 |
| East Palatka | 482 | 17 | $20,000 |
| Melrose | 308 | 11 | $30,000 |
| Welaka | 181 | 11 | $30,000 |
| San Mateo | 157 | 4 | — |
| Inerlachen | 2 | 1 | — |
Florida Department of Revenue-backed rows use the 2026 preliminary tax roll. Supplemental rows retain their separately prepared source edition. Most towns are counted by property-address city, a few by ZIP code (each town page states its scope), so areas can overlap. Lots we cannot place in a town count only in the county total.
Where we buy
Areas we cover in Putnam County
- Interlachen Lakes Estates
13,860vacant lots · 2025 median lot sale $6,500
- Hawthorne
3,664vacant lots · 2025 median lot sale $18,000
- St. Johns Riverside Estates
3,531vacant lots · 2025 median lot sale $8,500
- Paradise Lakes
3,039vacant lots · 2025 median lot sale $8,800
- Palatka
2,780vacant lots · 2025 median lot sale $13,800
- Florahome
1,845vacant lots · 2025 median lot sale $8,800
- Crescent City
1,306vacant lots · 2025 median lot sale $20,000
- Pomona Park
878vacant lots · 2025 median lot sale $20,000
- East Palatka
482vacant lots · 2025 median lot sale $20,000
- Melrose
308vacant lots · 2025 median lot sale $30,000
- Welaka
181vacant lots · 2025 median lot sale $30,000
- San Mateo
157vacant lots
These pages cover the largest lot markets in Putnam County. We buy land anywhere else in the county too: send the parcel details through the form below.
Selling here
How selling land works in Putnam County
County rules outside the five towns
Unincorporated land follows county rules, not a city hall. The citizen guide says the land development code requires a development permit before building, plumbing, electrical, gas, septic, or sign work starts in the unincorporated county. The Board of County Commissioners adopts that code. Planning staff advise the board, the planning commission, and the zoning board of adjustment. The tax collector's taxing-authority list names five municipalities with their own rates: the City of Palatka, the City of Crescent City, the Town of Interlachen, the Town of Pomona Park, and the Town of Welaka. A lot inside one of those towns is taxed by that town. A lot outside them is not. The property appraiser values the land. The tax collector assembles the bill, including special assessments. [2],[3],[4]
Road MSBUs bill the lots that benefit
Road MSBUs bill the owners who benefit from the work. An MSBU is a special assessment, not a slice of taxable value. The property appraiser says commissioners have "authorized 28 separate MSBU projects for road maintenance or road paving." The appraiser does not administer those charges. The tax collector puts them on the bill. One current property-appraiser card for a lot platted as Interlachen Lakes Estates, Frederick Town Unit 16, lists an Interlachen Lakes Est #2 MSBU of $35.79. That amount is for that parcel's MSBU, not every road project. Solid waste is a separate charge on residential units. For fiscal year 2025-2026 the published total is $312 in the unincorporated area and in Welaka, Pomona Park, and Interlachen: $121 for the landfill and $191 for collection. Palatka and Crescent City are billed $135, and that total includes the same $121 landfill charge. [5],[7],[6]
Septic permits still come from the health office
The county health department still issues septic permits. DEP has run the state septic rules since July 1, 2021, and its permitting list keeps this county with the local health department rather than a DEP district office. The health department page says county offices continue the permitting and the inspections. For fiscal year 2025-2026 the fee schedule lists a new residential septic permit at $525, a $400 state fee plus a $125 county fee. A new site-built house in the unincorporated county also needs a building permit. The minimum fee for that permit, including the trade permits, is $600, and the single-family application deposit is $35. Both took effect October 1, 2025. A lot inquiry, if you want a formal answer on whether the lot can be built on, costs $45. Planning has up to four weeks, and most replies come within two weeks. [8],[9],[6],[2],[3]
A tax certificate is a lien, not the lot
A tax certificate is a lien on the lot, not a sale of the lot. Taxes open November 1, with discounts of 4 percent, then 3, 2, and 1 percent from November through February. March is the full amount. On April 1 the bill is delinquent and a 3 percent penalty is added. The tax collector advertises parcels once a week for three weeks, then sells certificates on or before June 1. Bids start at 18 percent and drop by one-quarter of one percent. The office says the certificate "does NOT convey any rights or ownership of the property." A private holder has seven years from the sale date. After two years from April 1 of the issue year, the holder may apply for a tax deed. State law allows a $75 application fee, and this office also charges a $150 title-search fee. The 2026 notice set the sale for 9 a.m. on June 1, with registration closing at 4 p.m. on May 22. [4],[10],[11],[12],[13]
Flood maps and the one-foot building rule
Flood maps control new building, and an approved house must sit one foot above the base flood elevation. The comprehensive plan uses the latest FEMA maps to locate the 100-year floodplain and the floodways inside it. FEMA's community status book shows February 2, 2012 as the effective map date for community number 120272, and the same date for Palatka, Crescent City, Interlachen, Pomona Park, and Welaka. The county is Community Rating System class 8, with a 10% premium discount in a special flood hazard area and 5% outside it. Riverfront and lakefront standards keep the septic drain field 100 feet back from the water line. Septic use inside the 100-year floodplain is restricted by the county health department. Lots that already existed at 5:00 p.m. on December 19, 1991, and that cannot meet the lowest density in a special flood hazard area, may still be developed with one residence. [2],[17],[18]
Step by step
How do I sell my land in Putnam County?
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 Putnam County: common questions
Can I sell my lot if it has no water or sewer hookup?
Yes. A cash sale does not require a water or sewer hookup. We buy vacant lots, including lots with no water, sewer, or road work. A later house may need a septic permit from the county health department. The fiscal year 2025-2026 schedule lists that new residential permit at $525, a $400 state fee plus a $125 county fee.
How much does an empty lot cost to hold each year?
There is no single countywide price. Property tax follows the taxable value, and paying in November earns a 4 percent discount. If the lot sits in one of the 28 road MSBUs, that assessment is extra and the dollar amount changes with the district. Solid waste is billed on residential units. For fiscal year 2025-2026 the published total is $312 in the unincorporated area and in Welaka, Pomona Park, and Interlachen, and $135 in Palatka and Crescent City.
Who issues a septic permit on an unincorporated lot?
The Florida Department of Health in this county does. DEP took over the state rules on July 1, 2021, and it still lists this county among the places where the local health department issues the permit. That office says its staff continue permitting and inspections. The published new-residential total is $525. In a 100-year floodplain, the comprehensive plan says septic use is restricted by the same health department.
Can I sell land that already has a tax certificate on it?
Often, yes. A certificate is a lien. Paying the taxes, interest, and fees satisfies it. If a tax-deed case has started, the tax collector says the property may be redeemed before the tax-deed sale date. If you agree, back taxes or the certificate payoff can come out of the sale proceeds at closing. Our land inspection is the only condition on the purchase, and a failed inspection costs the seller nothing.
I live outside Florida. Can the papers be signed from home?
Yes. You can sign electronically, finish with a mail-away closing at an independent licensed title company, and be paid by check or by wire. We cover the closing costs. 34% of vacant-lot owners here list an address in another state, and 63% list a Florida address. We check utilities, access, and title on the parcel before offering.
Does a flood zone along the river stop a cash sale?
No. Vacant land in a mapped floodplain can still be sold for cash. The zone matters to the person who builds later. The county guide requires that house to sit one foot above the base flood elevation, and riverfront rules keep a septic drain field 100 feet back from the water line. FEMA's current effective map date for community 120272 is February 2, 2012.
Owner resources
Guides for your situation
- 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]
- 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.
- How to Sell Land in a Flood Zone
Flood-zone land can be sellable and sometimes buildable. A FEMA flood zone describes mapped risk; it is not a building permit. The buyer must verify the current effective Flood Insurance Rate Map and any map changes, then ask the local floodplain administrator what elevation, floodway, coastal, permit, and design rules apply.[1][2][4] Vacant land itself is not covered by an NFIP policy; flood insurance covers qualifying buildings and contents, not land value.[5][6]
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.
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 all parcels in Putnam County. 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 5, 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. Holding-cost estimates use 2025 taxable values and 2025 millage for FDOR vacant-residential code 000 parcels. They cover ad valorem taxes only, not a parcel-specific bill or non-ad valorem assessments. 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] Putnam County Planning and Development Services, A Citizen's Guide to Development in Putnam County (accessed 2026-10-05)
- [3] Putnam County Development Services, Planning and Zoning (accessed 2026-10-05)
- [4] Putnam County Tax Collector, Property Tax (accessed 2026-10-05)
- [5] Putnam County Property Appraiser, Non-Ad Valorem Assessments (accessed 2026-10-05)
- [6] Putnam County Board of County Commissioners, Countywide Fee Schedule, Fiscal Year 2025-2026 (accessed 2026-10-05)
- [7] Putnam County Property Appraiser, Parcel details, Interlachen Lakes Estates Unit 16 lot (accessed 2026-10-05)
- [8] Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Onsite Sewage FAQ, Permitting (accessed 2026-10-05)
- [9] Florida Department of Health in Putnam County, Onsite Sewage Disposal (accessed 2026-10-05)
- [10] Putnam County Tax Collector, Tax Collector Frequently Asked Questions (accessed 2026-10-05)
- [11] Putnam County Tax Collector, What is the Life of a Tax Certificate (accessed 2026-10-05)
- [12] Florida Senate, Florida Statutes section 197.502, application for a tax deed (accessed 2026-10-05)
- [13] Putnam County, Notice of delinquent property taxes, 2026 certificate sale (accessed 2026-10-05)
- [14] Putnam County Clerk of the Circuit Court, Official Records (accessed 2026-10-05)
- [15] Putnam County Clerk of Court, Clerk fee schedule effective January 1, 2023 (accessed 2026-10-07)
- [16] Florida Senate, Florida Statutes section 201.02, tax on deeds (accessed 2026-10-05)
- [17] Putnam County, Future Land Use Element, Comprehensive Plan (accessed 2026-10-05)
- [18] Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP community status book for Putnam County, Florida (accessed 2026-10-05)
- [19] Putnam County Parks & Recreation, St. Johns Paddling Trail (accessed 2026-10-05)