Southwest Ranches homes for sale & acreage guide

Zoning districts

Town Unified Land Development Code, Article 45:

Minimum lots for A-1, A-2 and RE: confirm with the Town for the specific parcel.

Guest houses, home offices and net acres

A detached guest house without a kitchen is allowed as an accessory use. Home offices may not have customer or employee visits and need a certificate of use. Minimums are in net acres, so canals, lakes and easements don't count toward them.

Utilities

Most homes run on private wells and septic, regulated by the Florida Department of Health in Broward (954-467-4700). Small areas get city water from Sunrise, Pembroke Pines or Cooper City. Power is FPL.

Parks and trails

Sunshine Ranches Equestrian Park, Country Estates Fishing Hole, Rolling Oaks Passive Park, Founders' Trailside Park, Southwest Meadows Sanctuary and Frontier Trails, linked by miles of multi-use and horse trails.

Schools

Broward County Public Schools. In town: Hawkes Bluff Elementary, Silver Trail Middle and Greentree Preparatory (charter, K–8). High school zoning varies by address; check it with Broward County Public Schools.

Getting around

About 19 miles to downtown Miami.

Farm tax break (agricultural classification)

Florida taxes land in bona fide commercial agricultural use on its farm-use value instead of market value (F.S. 193.461). That can cut the land part of the tax bill sharply. There is no minimum acreage; the appraiser looks at how long the land has been farmed, its size relative to the use, care, and any lease.

Homestead

A primary residence gets up to $50,000 off assessed value (the second $25,000 excludes school taxes) and the Save Our Homes cap of 3% a year. File by March 1. The cap resets to market value when the home sells; portability can carry savings from a previous Florida homestead (form DR-501T within 3 years). Confirm current rules with your county Property Appraiser before you rely on them.

Before you buy acreage: checklist

• Boundary survey showing net acreage (canals and easements excluded)
• Zoning district confirmed, and that the home, barn, guest house and arena were permitted
• Septic inspection and pump records
• Well water test: bacteria, nitrates, pesticides
• Flood zone and elevation certificate (new Broward flood maps since July 31, 2024)
• Open code cases and liens searched
• HOA or deed restrictions (usually none, but some SW Ranches subdivisions have them)
• Horse limits for the district and lot size
• Farm classification plan: ag use in place by Jan 1, apply by Mar 1
• Homestead application by Mar 1
• Insurance quote early: wind, flood, outbuildings