Can you live off-grid in Anchorage Municipality, Alaska?
70
of 100
Significant challenges
Possible, but winter will be hard. The growing season is about 108 frost-free days and winter sun is weak, so plan on a greenhouse and a bigger battery bank or a generator. Water is easy here, with about 73 inches of rain a year and wells near 100 feet. The U.S. Geological Survey maps strong earthquake shaking here, so build to the seismic code.
What the land says
Rain
Rain can supply much of a household's water with a large tank. A garden mostly waters itself in normal years.
About 73 inches a year (30-year average)
Wells
Shallow wells, so drilling should be one of the cheaper costs.
The typical well here is about 100 feet deep; a well typically runs $12,000 to $28,000
Growing season
Very short. A greenhouse makes the difference.
About 108 frost-free days, USDA zone 5b; last frost about June 1, first about September 18
Sun
Weak sun. Solar needs a generator behind it in winter.
About 3.1 hours of full sun a day, averaged over the year
Flood
Flood zones are rare here. Still, look up the parcel on FEMA's flood map.
FEMA maps no flood zones nearby
Wildfire
Moderate wildfire risk. Keep brush cleared around the house.
U.S. Forest Service wildfire hazard map: Very Low to Moderate here
Storms
Hurricanes and strong tornadoes are rare here.
NOAA: no hurricane-strength storm within 50 miles since 1975; no strong (EF2 or stronger) tornado within 25 miles since 1990
Earthquakes
Strong shaking is possible. Build to the seismic code and brace the water tank.
USGS seismic hazard map: very high
Terrain
Rolling ground. Look for a flat house site.
Slopes average about 15%, about 340 feet above sea level
Soil
Good ground for a standard septic system. The county's soil test decides.
Silt loam, well drained (USDA soil survey). A standard system typically runs $5,000 to $10,000
Road
Paved roads are close by.
Nearest paved road usually within about 0.8 miles (OpenStreetMap)
Check an Alaska parcel, or plan the one you own
Get a free 0-100 off-grid score.
A step-by-step build plan, sizing your solar, water, garden, septic, heat, and buildings.
Is it legal here?
Zoning
Rural land here is often unzoned. Confirm with the borough before you build.
Building code
Alaska has no statewide building code for one- to three-family homes, so a house needs a building permit only where a city or borough, such as Anchorage, has adopted its own code. Homes financed by Alaska Housing Finance Corporation must still meet state construction standards and pass inspections.
Rainwater
Collecting it is allowed.
Composting toilets
Allowed.
Water rights
Water belongs to whoever claimed it first. A new well or pond may need a state permit, and a creek may already be claimed.
Drilled to about 100 feet, with pump and pressure tank
Septic
$5,000 to $10,000
Standard system
Solar and batteries
$18,000 to $34,000
Sized for a modest household
Road or driveway
$7,000 to $18,000
From the nearest road to a house site
Clearing
$2,000 to $9,000
A house site, solar, and garden
Total
$45,000 to $99,000
Before the house
Before you make an offer on land here
Zoning
Confirm with the borough whether the parcel is zoned.
Rural land in Alaska is often unzoned.
Soil test
Get a soil test before you count on septic.
The county has to approve the ground before it issues a septic permit.
Road access
Confirm the parcel fronts a public road or has a recorded easement.
Without one, you may not have a legal way in.
Nearby counties
286,075 people live in Anchorage Municipality, about 167.6 per square mile. It ranks 1st of the 29 Alaska counties we scored, and Alaska ranks 50th of 50 states.