Imagine you have found the perfect spot of land near the Florida coast. The breeze is salty and the view is unmatched. But there is a catch. You absolutely love your current home. Maybe it is a historic bungalow in Tampa or a sturdy ranch in Jacksonville that holds decades of family memories. You’re stuck between a rock and a hard place. Do you sell the Florida home you love, or do you stay put? Well, there is a third option. You can pick it up and take it with you. Yes, physically pick it up. This sounds like something from a cartoon movie but structural moving is a very real industry.
I have spent nearly three decades in the real estate and construction world. I have seen houses float down rivers on barges and roll down highways at three in the morning. The first question everyone asks me is always about the price tag. How much does it cost to move a house in Florida, specifically? It is not as simple as buying a gallon of milk. The price depends on weight, distance, and obstacles.
In this guide, we are going to break down every single penny. By the end of this read, you will know exactly what to expect for your wallet.
Let’s dive into the heavy lifting.
Cost to Move a House
Let’s get the big numbers out of the way first. For a standard structural move in Florida in 2026, you are generally looking at a starting point of about $12 to $16 per square foot just for the heavy lifting and transport. That means if you have a typical 1,500-square-foot home, the base cost to move a house could sit somewhere between $18,000 and $24,000.
However, that is just for the move itself. That price tag does not include the new foundation you need at the destination or the permits to get there. When you add in a new slab or crawl space foundation, utility hookups, and permits, a total project usually ranges from $40,000 to well over $150,000. If you are moving a massive historic home across the state, you could easily see numbers climbing toward $200,000. It is a wide range because every route is different.
Breaking Down the Cost to Move a House in Florida
Florida is unique. We have sandy soil, hurricane regulations, and a lot of water. These factors change the math compared to moving a house in Ohio or Kansas. The average cost to move a house in Florida is heavily influenced by your foundation type. Most Florida homes are on concrete slabs. Moving a slab home is harder than moving one with a crawl space.
Structural house moving Florida cost estimates often start with a feasibility study. Before a single truck starts its engine, you might pay an engineer $1,000 to $2,000 to see if the house can even handle the stress. If your home is made of block construction is very common here it is heavier and more brittle than a wood-frame house. This requires more steel beams and hydraulic dollies, which pushes the price up.
Never assume your route is clear. I once saw a project budget double because we had to pay the city to temporarily take down three traffic lights. Always drive your route with a tape measure in your mind.
House Moving Distance Cost
The house moving distance cost is your biggest variable. Moving a house just across the lot to build a new subdivision is the cheapest option. You might pay as little as $15,000 for that short hop. But once you hit the public road, the meter starts running fast.
Structural movers do not usually charge by the mile like a taxi. They charge by the difficulty. A five-mile move down a wide country road is cheaper than a one-mile move through downtown Orlando. You have to pay for utility disconnect and reconnect costs. If your house is tall, utility crews must drive ahead of your house to lift power lines. Each line lift can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars depending on the utility company.
Foundation Replacement Florida Cost
You cannot park your house on the grass. You need a new foundation waiting at the finish line. The foundation replacement Florida cost is a huge chunk of your budget. A new masonry stem wall or monolithic slab can cost anywhere from $5 to $37 per square foot.
Modular vs Site-Built House Moving
There is a big price difference in modular vs site-built house moving. A modular or mobile home comes with a steel chassis underneath it. It was born to move. You can move a single-wide mobile home for $3,000 to $5,000 locally. A double-wide might cost $10,000 to $14,000 to separate, move, and stitch back together.
A site-built home is different. It was never meant to leave its spot. The movers have to slide steel beams under the floor joists to create a fake chassis. This labor is why the cost to move a house that is site-built is five to ten times higher than moving a mobile home.
The Hidden Costs of Moving a House
Let’s talk about the things nobody tells you about. Permit costs to move a house Florida varies wildly by county. In places like Miami-Dade or Palm Beach, permits can be a nightmare of paperwork and fees totaling over $2,000. You also need police escorts. The Florida Highway Patrol or local deputies charge an hourly rate to block traffic for you.
Then there is the “put back together” phase. Moving a house is like a mild earthquake. Drywall will crack. Tiles might pop. You should budget at least $5,000 to $10,000 for cosmetic repairs after the move. Also, do not forget plumbing and electric. You need a licensed plumber to connect your old pipes to the new septic or sewer system. That is another $3,000 to $6,000 gone.
Florida Flood Zones and House Lifting
Many Floridians are not moving horizontally; they are moving vertically. House lifting cost Florida is a hot topic lately due to rising sea levels. If you want to keep your home but save it from storm surge, you lift it up.
Florida flood zone house elevation cost projects are expensive but can lower your insurance premiums drastically. Lifting a house 10 feet into the air and building a new open foundation underneath typically costs between $40,000 and $100,000. FEMA house elevation Florida cost grants are sometimes available. The FMA (Flood Mitigation Assistance) grants can cover a huge portion of this if you qualify. This is vital for post-hurricane house relocation Florida efforts.
Permits and Regulations for Moving a House
You need permission for everything. Structural moving contractors Florida usually handle the heavy lifting of paperwork, but you pay for it. You need a moving permit, a building permit for the new site, and sometimes a demolition permit for the old foundation.
If you are dealing with historic home relocation Florida, the rules get even tighter. Historic preservation boards want to ensure the move does not damage the character of the building. They might require special insurance bonds. Speaking of which, regular home insurance does not cover the move. You need inland marine or cargo insurance for the structure while it is on the road.
Comparing the Cost
Let’s do a quick math check. If you spend $150,000 to move an old house and buy a new lot for $100,000, you are in for $250,000. If that house is a solid brick beauty that would cost $400,000 to build new today, then yes, it is a bargain.
But if the house is old and needs a new roof and wiring anyway, the numbers might not make sense. Sometimes the stress and the moving a house in Florida price tag are just too high. If you are feeling overwhelmed by the costs and logistics, you might want to consider selling the property as-is. For a hassle-free option, you can check out Quality Properties of Northwest Florida LLC who can take the property off your hands without you lifting a finger.
Why Choose Structural Moving?
Despite the high average cost to move a house in Florida, people still do it. Why? Sentimentality is number one. You cannot put a price on the home where your babies took their first steps.
Another reason is preservation. We are losing too many old Florida homes to bulldozers. House relocation services Florida are saving our history one bungalow at a time. It is also eco-friendly. You are recycling an entire building rather than sending tons of debris to a landfill.
Specifics on Slab vs Crawl Space Moving Cost
I mentioned this earlier, but the slab vs crawl space moving cost difference is huge. A crawl space house already has room underneath for steel beams. A slab house does not. Movers have to tunnel under the slab or cut holes in the foundation to insert beams.
This extra labor for slab homes can add $5,000 to $10,000 to the cost to move a house. Since so many Florida homes are on slabs, this is a cost you likely cannot avoid. Be sure to ask your contractor specifically about their experience with slab moves. Not every mover knows how to do it safely without cracking the floor.
Hurricane Mitigation and Safety
Hurricane mitigation house lifting Florida is becoming standard. If you move a house, the new foundation must meet current 2026 building codes. This means your old house, once moved, will be safer than it was before. It will be strapped down to a modern foundation designed to withstand 150 mph winds.
The hurricane elevation requirements Florida enforces are strict but necessary. While this adds to the how much does house lifting and moving cost in Florida bottom line, it adds immense value to the home. A storm-proof home is a valuable asset in this state.
Final Words
The cost to move a house in Florida is significant. You are paying for expertise, specialized equipment, and a lot of insurance. But for the right house and the right situation, it is a magical process. You get to keep the home you love and put it in a better location.
Just remember to budget for the unexpected. Utilities, permits, and repairs add up fast. If the math starts to look scary and you decide the moving a house process is too much to handle, remember there are other paths. You can always sell quickly to Quality Properties of Northwest Florida LLC and find a new dream home that is already where you want it to be. Moving a house is a big adventure. It requires patience, money, and a good sense of humor when the permit office loses your paperwork. But seeing your home rolling down the street toward a better future? That is a sight you will never forget.
FAQs
Can you move a house built on a concrete slab in Florida?
Yes, you absolutely can. It is more complex than moving a house with a crawl space because movers have to tunnel underneath or cut through the foundation to insert steel lifting beams. This process is slower and typically costs more, but experienced Florida structural movers do it regularly.
Is it cheaper to move a house or build a new one?
It depends on the quality of the house. If you have a well-built structure, moving it is often cheaper per square foot than building a custom home from scratch in 2026. However, if the house needs major renovations, the combined cost of moving plus repairs might exceed the cost of new construction.
How far can you move a house?
Technically, you can move a house as far as you want, even across state lines. However, the cost becomes prohibitive for long distances due to the need to remove power lines and traffic signals. Most structural moves stay within a few miles to keep costs reasonable.
Are there FEMA grants for lifting houses in Florida?
Yes, FEMA offers grants like the Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) program. These grants can help cover the cost of elevating homes in flood-prone areas to reduce future flood damage. You usually have to apply through your local community government.
