Looking for a profitable way to develop some empty land? There are many moneymaking ideas that you can try from setting up a community garden to running an outdoor movie theater. Below are 10 inspiring ideas to consider. 

Community garden

Setting up a community garden involves dividing up land into rentable garden plots. You get to decide the plot fees and who you rent out to. Community gardens tend to be most lucrative in towns and cities where many people may not have backyards or ample outdoor space to do gardening. Ideally the land should be flat with nutrient rich soil to support a range of plants, and there should be water supply on site. You’ll also need to install fencing and a secure gate so that only members have access (this may also help to keep out wild animals).

Solar farm

Turning your land into a solar farm could be a green and profitable way to put some empty land to use. The easiest way to make money from a solar farm is to lease the land out to a solar developer – they install and maintain the panels and make money by selling the energy generated while paying you lease fees to use the ground. The ideal land for a solar farm is typically flat unshaded land within proximity of utility lines. Larger areas of land covering several acres are likely to be more attractive to solar developers, but small-scale solar farms do exist and can still be profitable.

Parking lot

Setting up a parking lot and charging a small fee to people to park there could be another way to make money from vacant land. Parking lots near entertainment venues, hospitals, airports or busy offices tend to be the most lucrative options. It doesn’t cost much to convert land into a parking lot – simply pave over the land, add parking bay striping and install a payment kiosk (or allow people to pay via an app). Features like access control, lighting, security cameras, signage and drainage (check out Trench Drain Co. for the best drainage solutions) are also worth considering. There are parking lot design companies that can help you design the perfect parking lot. 

Camping ground

If you have some rural land in a scenic position, this could potentially make an excellent camping ground. You can make money from this camping ground by renting out plots to campers. Features to consider adding to your camping ground to make it attractive include RV electrical hook-ups, parking pads, campfire areas and a toilet/shower block. Installing fencing around your camping ground may also be worthwhile to stop visitors sneaking in without paying and to keep out wild animals. 

Construction storage yard

You could also consider renting out land to contractors for storing heavy equipment or building supplies. Rural plots of land near large roads with truck access tend to be best suited for this purpose. Converting land into a construction storage yard will likely involve paving over the yard and securing the perimeter with fencing and cameras. Adding secure storage units for storing supplies could also be worthwhile. 

Billboard advertising

If you own land overlooking a highway or busy road, this could potentially make great land for installing a billboard. You can pay a billboard company to install a billboard there – they will then find advertisers and pay you a fee for the use of your land. Just make sure that you get a permit first as some areas of land may not be possible to use for advertising purposes. 

Apiary

Ever fancied getting into beekeeping? An apiary is essentially a bee farm. This business idea could allow you to make money by selling honey or beeswax. You don’t need a lot of space to set up an apiary – especially if you’re only installing a couple hives – however the land will ideally need to be fairly rural with lots of flowers and not too many residents nearby. There are specialist companies that you can buy hives from. Buying beekeeping suits and taking a beekeeping course is recommended. 

Pumpkin patch

Another way to put some rural land to profitable use could be to set up a pumpkin patch. You can make money in October by selling pumpkins locally or by organizing pumpkin picking events. You don’t need a lot of land to start growing pumpkins, but to truly make it worthwhile, you’ll likely want a fairly large area of land. Adding a parking lot and pathways could be important if you plan to allow visitors to come to your pumpkin farm. 

Chicken farm

Compared to other forms of livestock, chickens don’t take up too much space and don’t cost that much money to feed and maintain. This makes a chicken farm a popular venture for those looking to make some money out of some vacant land. There are two main ways to turn a chicken farm into an income – either by selling eggs or rearing chickens for their meat. In either case, you’ll need to make sure your chickens are kept in clean and secure coops with enough room to run around. 

Outdoor movie theater

Empty land could also be potentially used for outdoor cinema screenings of movies. This could be a drive-in movie theater that allows people to watch movies from their cars or a lawn movie theater in which people can sit on chairs or sit down on the grass. You can make money by charging customers for tickets and by charging food trucks to provide food. You will need to invest in a decent screen, projector and a speaker system. A public performance license will also need to be obtained each time you show a movie.

Conclusion

These are just a handful of ideas to consider. Think about how much land you have, where it is located, what your budget is and where your passions lie. Doing your research will ensure that your project is a success – make sure to invest in all the right permits and obtain insurance to cover you against the most likely risks.