Locations / Cumberland County, VA
Custom Home Builder in Cumberland County, VA
Between the James and the Appomattox — farmland, a 16,000-acre state forest and room to build a home with land around it.
Why Cumberland
Why Build in Cumberland County?
Cumberland County lies west of Powhatan, between the James River on its northern edge and the Appomattox on its southern one, with the Willis River running through the middle. It is quiet, largely level farm and forest country, with the courthouse on Route 60 and Farmville just over the southern line.
- 01
About an Hour Out
Cartersville, on the James, is about an hour from our Henrico office, and the courthouse a little over. We build across the whole county and plan site visits around the drive.
- 02
$0.60 per $100
Cumberland’s real estate rate is $0.60 per $100 of assessed value — $4,200 a year on a $700,000 assessment, against $5,670 in Hanover.
- 03
A State Forest on the Doorstep
Cumberland State Forest covers more than 16,000 acres, most of it in the county, with four lakes and miles of trails along the Willis River. Bear Creek Lake State Park sits inside it.
- 04
70 New Homes a Year
Cumberland permitted 70 single-family homes in 2025, as it did in 2024, at an average reported construction value of $239,446. That figure is the structure alone — no land, no well, no septic, no driveway.
- 05
Two Rivers, and the High Bridge Trail
The James forms the county’s northern edge and the Appomattox its southern one, where the High Bridge Trail crosses into Cumberland. Henrico’s new Cobbs Creek reservoir is here too.
How We Build Here
Building on Your Own Land in Cumberland
Out here nearly every home is a build-on-your-lot project, and the order matters more than the calendar.
- 01
We Walk the Land Before Anything Is Drawn
Access, slope, tree cover worth keeping, where the well and drainfield can go and how the drive comes in from the road. Every one of those shapes the floor plan, and all of them are cheaper to find on the parcel than on paper. Book a free lot walk and we will walk it with you.
- 02
Well and Septic, Outside the Courthouse Area
Public water and sewer serve the courthouse area along Route 60, with sewer running south along Route 45 toward Farmville. Away from those lines, expect a private well and septic, permitted by the Health Department; the soil evaluation decides where the drainfield — and so the house — can sit.
- 03
Soils and Foundations
Parts of the county have shrink-swell soils, and the county keeps a soils map for exactly that reason. We check the parcel against it before the foundation is designed, not after the footings are dug.
- 04
One Contract, Not Four Trades and a Spreadsheet
Site work, the well and septic, the house and the finishes run as a single contract with one schedule and one point of contact. On a rural build this far out, that is the difference between a builder and a project manager you hired by accident.
Frequently Asked Questions
Building in Cumberland — Common Questions
Do you build in Cumberland County?+
Yes — on your own land anywhere in the county, from Cartersville on the James to Cumberland Court House and the Route 45 corridor toward Farmville.
What is the property tax rate in Cumberland County?+
$0.60 per $100 of assessed value — $4,200 a year on a $700,000 assessment. The small part of the Town of Farmville that lies in Cumberland adds a town levy.
Do I need a well and septic system?+
Outside the courthouse area and the Route 45 sewer line, almost certainly. The Health Department issues both permits, and the soil evaluation decides where the drainfield goes.
Do I need a land disturbance permit?+
Above 10,000 square feet of disturbance, yes. A single-family home disturbing less than an acre can normally file an Agreement in Lieu of a Plan with the building permit; above an acre, a state permit is needed as well. We handle it as part of the build.
Is Cumberland too far out for you?+
No. Cartersville is about an hour from our office and the courthouse a little over, and we build there. The lot walk, design and permits happen before construction starts, and during the build we schedule site visits around the drive.
How long does a Cumberland custom build take?+
Most custom builds run 10–14 months from contract to move-in. On rural land the front end — lot walk, soil evaluation, design and permits — is where the calendar varies most. You get a written timeline before construction starts.
Sources
Where These Numbers Come From
Every figure on this page comes from a public record, linked below. Tax rates are adopted each spring and we re-check them then; permit data is released annually by the Census Bureau. If a number here is out of date, tell us and we will correct it.
Cumberland County real estate tax rate
Cumberland County — Cumberland Tax Rates (cumberlandcounty.virginia.gov)
Hanover County real estate tax rate (comparison)
Hanover County — Tax Rates (hanovercounty.gov) · 2026 rate
Where public water and sewer reach
Cumberland County — 2023 Comprehensive Plan (cumberlandcounty.virginia.gov) · adopted 2023
The county’s public utilities
Cumberland County — Public Utilities (cumberlandcounty.virginia.gov)
Shrink-swell soils and the county soils map
Cumberland County — Shrink-Swell Soil (cumberlandcounty.virginia.gov)
Land-disturbance permits and the Agreement in Lieu for a single home
Cumberland County — Erosion & Sediment Control Permits (cumberlandcounty.virginia.gov)
Cumberland State Forest’s size, lakes and trails
Virginia Department of Forestry — Cumberland State Forest (dof.virginia.gov)
The High Bridge Trail crosses Cumberland, Nottoway and Prince Edward counties
Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation — High Bridge Trail State Park (dcr.virginia.gov)
Henrico’s Cobbs Creek reservoir
Henrico County — Board of Supervisors meeting recap, February 2026 (henrico.gov)
Single-family permit counts and average construction value
U.S. Census Bureau — Building Permits Survey, annual county file (www2.census.gov) · 2025 release
Average construction value is reported valuation divided by units — the structure as declared on the permit. It excludes land and is not a sale price.
Take the Next Step
Talk With Us
Book 15 minutes to answer your home building, financing, or land search questions.
Walk Your Lot
We walk the property with you and flag access, soil, septic, and build constraints.
Plan Your Build
Two ways to get your bearings before you talk to anyone.
Have a question?
What would you like to know about building in Cumberland County?