01Land and lots in Essex County, NJ
Essex County land and lots for sale.
Browse land and development lots for sale in Essex County, New Jersey. In one of the most densely developed counties in the country, buildable land is scarce and valuable, and most opportunities are redevelopment parcels and teardown lots rather than open ground. From development sites and infill lots in Newark, where the city's redevelopment offers real opportunity, to estate-town teardown lots in Short Hills, Livingston, and Montclair, land here is about what can be built, so understanding zoning, redevelopment plans, and any environmental issues is essential before purchasing.
Land in Essex County is scarce, ranging from redevelopment parcels and teardown lots in Newark to estate-town teardown lots in Short Hills, Livingston, and Montclair, with prices driven by location, zoning, and any approvals or abatements.
Updated Spring 2026
Search Essex County land and lots, updated in real time.
Explore the latest homes for sale in Essex County, NJ, updated in real time so you see accurate availability and pricing across the city of Newark, the walkable Midtown Direct suburbs, and the western estate towns.
Essex County is served by highly regarded districts including Montclair, Millburn, and Livingston and by Seton Hall University, with University Hospital and Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center nearby and Midtown Direct rail into Manhattan. Use the price-range pages below to narrow your search, or call 888-327-6555 for a town-by-town update.
With land, never rely on the listing alone. Confirm zoning, redevelopment-plan status, permitted density, environmental history, and any approvals or abatements with the municipality and qualified professionals before purchasing, since these determine what, and whether, you can build in Essex County.
55 Properties Available In Essex
- 1/4 4
2.95 Acres$4,999,000New 
1.14 Acres$125,000New568 Mount Pleasant Ave, West Orange Twp., NJ 07052
Listed by KELLER WILLIAMS SUBURBAN REALTY
Vacant Land
- 1/3 3
0.09 Acres$275,000Price Dropped by $124K - 1/2 2
0.06 Acres$180,000Active 
0.16 Acres$1,600,000Active- 1/4 4
0.11 Acres$775,000Active - 1/13 13
0.37 Acres$439,000Under Contract 
$180,000Active- 1/4 4
0.09 Acres$280,000Active - 1/28 28
0.08 Acres$174,900Under Contract - 1/15 15
1.48 Acres$225,000Price Dropped by $25K - 1/15 15
1.48 Acres$225,000Price Dropped by $25K - 1/3 3
0.04 Acres$339,000Active - 1/7 7
0.07 Acres$229,900Under Contract - 1/8 8
0.06 Acres$189,900Under Contract - 1/7 7
0.85 Acres$425,000Under Contract - 1/7 7
0.36 Acres$425,000Under Contract - 1/4 4
0.06 Acres$350,000Active - 1/3 3
0.09 Acres$300,000Active - 1/3 3
0.22 Acres$1,499,000Active - 1/4 4
0.06 Acres$150,000Under Contract 
0.06 Acres$400,000Active- 1/5 5
0.38 Acres$699,000Active - 1/6 6
0.16 Acres$500,000Active395-99 Dr Mlk Jr Blvd, East Orange City, NJ 07018
Listed by KELLER WILLIAMS VALLEY REALTY
Vacant Land
explore listings in Essex
02Explore Communities & Market
Where to buy land in Essex County.
Land in Essex County falls into two very different categories, and the right parcel depends on whether you want to build in the city or the estate towns. Developers and builders pursue redevelopment parcels and infill lots in Newark, where zoning and redevelopment plans, and often tax abatements, support new construction near transit, while custom-home buyers look for teardown lots in Short Hills, Livingston, and Montclair. Newark's aggressive redevelopment has driven much of the county's new development. Compare the areas below before you choose.
Buildable land is genuinely rare in built-out Essex County. Newark offers the most opportunity through redevelopment and infill near its transit hubs; the estate towns offer teardown lots rather than raw land; and truly open parcels are almost nonexistent. That scarcity makes due diligence, on zoning, redevelopment-plan status, environmental history near the port and industrial areas, and any approvals or abatements, the single most important part of any Essex County land purchase.
Environmental history is decisive on many Essex County parcels, particularly older industrial sites in Newark and near the port, where remediation can be costly and time-consuming, so Phase I and II environmental review is an essential early step before any serious land offer.
Land buyers in Essex County should treat the feasibility and entitlement phase as the heart of the purchase, engaging land-use counsel and engineers to confirm what a parcel will actually support, and in Newark, what the redevelopment plan and any abatement allow, before committing, since the difference between a valuable parcel and an unusable one so often comes down to zoning, approvals, and environmental status rather than price, and buyers who front-load that diligence in a built-out, redevelopment-driven county are the ones who end up building what they envisioned.
The development case, zoning, and due diligence for land buyers in Essex County.
Land buyers in Essex County are almost always developers or custom-home builders pursuing what a parcel can become. A redevelopment site in Newark near transit can support new condos or mixed-use given the right zoning, approvals, and often an abatement; a teardown lot in Short Hills or Montclair can become a custom home in a top school town. In each case, the value lies in the entitlement and what the site can achieve.
The practical reality of Essex County land is that zoning, redevelopment plans, and environmental history govern everything. Newark parcels often sit in redevelopment areas with specific rules and abatement programs, and older industrial sites near the port may require remediation, so successful land buyers work closely with land-use counsel and engineers before committing.
For those who navigate it well, Essex County land offers a rare chance to build in one of the region's most transit-rich and dynamic markets, from new housing near Newark's transit to a custom home in a top estate town, where demand is deep and durable.
Land buyers in Essex County are effectively buying an entitlement, and in Newark the value of a parcel depends heavily on the redevelopment plan and any tax abatement, so the most successful buyers treat the approvals process, not the dirt, as the real purchase and budget time and capital accordingly.
Timeline and carrying costs deserve realistic planning on any Essex County land purchase, especially in Newark: securing redevelopment approvals and, where needed, completing environmental remediation can take many months during which the buyer carries the site, so buyers who budget for that entitlement period and work with experienced land-use counsel and engineers are far better positioned than those expecting a quick path to construction.
Search Essex County homes by price.
Jump to a price range or property type that fits your search, browse the Essex County area guide, or check current open houses. Every link below is a live page.
Browse Essex County towns & neighborhoods.
Explore our town-by-town guides near Essex County and across Essex County. Each guide covers local neighborhoods, schools, commute options, and current listings.
Essex County open houses.
Browse upcoming open houses in Essex County, or register for weekly alerts. Call 888-327-6555 to schedule a private showing any day of the week.
Homes for sale by property type.
Explore every type of home in and around Essex County through our Essex County property pages: single-family homes, urban and affluent-suburban homes, townhomes and condos, new construction, 55+ active-adult communities, and multi-family investment properties.
The Essex County land market, by the numbers.
The median list price in Essex County, NJ is currently $590K, about $340 per square foot. Homes here average 45 days on market with roughly 2250 active listings. Updated Spring 2026.
Essex County's land market is defined by scarcity and redevelopment, with the most opportunity in Newark's redevelopment areas near transit and in estate-town teardown lots in Short Hills, Livingston, and Montclair.
Updated Spring 2026
Within Essex County, entitled Newark redevelopment parcels near transit and estate-town teardown lots in Short Hills and Livingston command the highest prices, while more constrained parcels vary widely based on buildability. Because buildable land is so scarce, well-located parcels with clean zoning, redevelopment approval, and no environmental issues can move quickly, so buyers who have done their due diligence are best positioned to act. Because buildable land is so scarce in this densely developed county, a parcel's value hinges on its entitlement status, permitted density, and any abatement, so a Newark redevelopment site with clean approvals near transit can be worth far more than a larger, constrained, or contaminated one. Call 888-327-6555 for a street-by-street breakdown.
Why buy land in Essex County.
- Build in a top marketLand and redevelopment parcels let developers and custom-home buyers build in one of the region's most transit-rich, dynamic markets.
- Newark redevelopmentNewark offers redevelopment and infill opportunity near transit, often with tax abatements supporting new construction.
- Estate-town teardown lotsShort Hills, Livingston, and Montclair offer teardown lots for custom homes in top school districts.
- Scarcity and valueIn a built-out county, buildable land is rare and holds value for those who secure it with clean approvals.
- Deep, durable demandNew housing near Newark's transit and custom homes in top towns meet deep, durable demand near Manhattan.
Amenities & community overview.
A closer look at zoning, redevelopment, and considerations for land buyers in Essex County.
- Browse all homes for sale in Essex County or explore the wider Essex County market.
- Compare Essex County neighborhoods and home styles before choosing, from attainable options to its premier properties.
- Weigh your commute: Interstate 280, Interstate 78, Route 21, the Garden State Parkway, and the New Jersey Turnpike, plus newark Penn Station is a major NJ Transit, Amtrak, and PATH hub, the Morris & Essex Midtown Direct trains run from Montclair, Maplewood, South Orange, Millburn, and Short Hills straight into New York Penn Station, and PATH, the Newark Light Rail, and extensive buses add options.
- Explore Branch Brook Park and its cherry blossoms, the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, South Mountain Reservation, and Newark Liberty International Airport, with parks, dining, and rail access nearby.
- Call 888-327-6555 for a live, neighborhood-by-neighborhood market update in Essex County.
Buying land in Essex County is a development exercise more than a real estate purchase. The county's scarcity of buildable ground, combined with Newark's redevelopment plans and abatement programs and, on older sites, environmental history near the port, means the difference between a great parcel and an unusable one comes down to entitlement and due diligence. For buyers who work with the right land-use counsel and engineers, the payoff is significant: the ability to build new housing near Newark's transit or a custom home in a top estate town, in one of the region's most dynamic, connected markets.
Resources for buyers & sellers.
Local and county government, schools, healthcare, transportation, parks, and financial assistance relevant to Essex County, NJ buyers and sellers, every link verified and described below.
First-time home buyer programs in Essex County.
First-time buyer in Essex County or Essex County, NJ? The New Jersey Dream Homeownership Program from NJHMFA helps eligible buyers with affordable financing, down payment and closing-cost assistance, and homebuyer education. Special options are available for military members, public safety professionals, educators, and healthcare workers.
03Connect for Answers
Frequently asked questions.
Is there land for sale in Essex County, NJ?
Buildable land is scarce in this densely developed county. Most opportunities are redevelopment parcels and teardown lots, with the most opportunity in Newark and estate-town teardown lots. Call 888-327-6555 for current availability.
Where can I find buildable land in Essex County?
Redevelopment and infill parcels appear in Newark near transit, while teardown lots are found in the estate towns of Short Hills, Livingston, and Montclair, all subject to zoning and, in Newark, redevelopment rules.
What are redevelopment areas, and why do they matter?
Many Newark parcels sit within municipal redevelopment areas that set density, use, and design rules and often offer tax abatements, which are central to what a parcel can become and its economics.
What should I check before buying land in Essex County?
Verify zoning, redevelopment-plan status, permitted density, environmental history, and any approvals or abatements with the municipality and qualified professionals. On older industrial sites near the port, remediation may be required.
Can I build a new building on a Essex County lot?
Yes, given the right zoning, redevelopment approval, and, on some sites, environmental clearance. We can help you find parcels and connect you with land-use counsel and engineers.
How much does land cost in Essex County?
Prices vary widely by location, permitted density, and approvals, from Newark redevelopment parcels to estate-town teardown lots. Entitlement and buildable use are often the biggest factors in value.
Do Essex County land parcels have environmental issues?
Some do, particularly older industrial sites near the port and in Newark, which may require remediation. Environmental due diligence is a critical part of any Essex County land purchase.
How are property taxes on land in Essex County?
Vacant and development land is assessed and taxed by the municipality, though Newark redevelopment may involve abatements. The NJ Division of Taxation resource on this page covers assessment.
Is buying land a good investment in Essex County?
It can be, given the scarcity of buildable land near Manhattan and deep development demand, but value depends heavily on entitlement and constraints. Thorough due diligence is essential.
Can Four Point Realty help me buy or sell land in Essex County?
Yes. We help buyers and sellers with redevelopment parcels and teardown lots across Essex County and can coordinate with land-use professionals. Call 888-327-6555 to start.
How do I find land listings in Essex County?
Call 888-327-6555 or register for a free account, since development parcels and teardown opportunities are often marketed quietly or off-market and may not appear on consumer sites.
Should I buy land and build or buy an existing property in Essex County?
Building lets you create new space but requires navigating scarce land, zoning, and, in Newark, redevelopment rules, while buying existing is faster. We can help you weigh both for your goals.
What areas near Essex County should land buyers also consider?
Developers seeking more or less constrained land sometimes look to parts of Hudson, Union, or Passaic County. We can help you weigh those against Essex County's density and redevelopment.
Why choose Four Point Realty for your search.
Buying or selling a home is one of the biggest financial decisions you will make. Four Point Realty is a trusted NJ real estate resource led by Naveen Sharma, offering current listings, strong local market knowledge, and honest insights from the first showing to the closing table. Call 888-327-6555 today.
Naveen Sharma
Ready to buy? Work directly with Naveen, whether you're buying your first home, relocating, investing, or moving up to a larger house, we guide you every step of the way.
Thinking about selling? Our listing fee starts at 1%*, giving homeowners full-service representation while saving thousands in commission.
Listing fee starting at 1%*. Buyer agent compensation is separate and negotiated per transaction. Naveen Sharma is licensed in NJ & GA. Four Point Realty LLC is licensed in NJ, NY & GA.
Connect with our team βGaurav Sharma
Broker of Record (NY). Licensed in NJ, NY & GA. Gaurav leads the Four Point Realty agent team and guides clients through pricing, negotiation, and closing, keeping every transaction smooth, transparent, and on schedule. My goal is always to help you make smart decisions by providing market insights, expert negotiation, and personalized guidance.
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