Hoonah-Angoon Census Area, AK · off-grid fact sheet
Can you live off-grid in Hoonah-Angoon Census Area, Alaska?
54
of 100
Major concerns
Possible, but hard and costly. The growing season is about 127 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 159 inches of rain a year and wells near 20 feet. Septic will likely cost more, because the soil stays wet most of the year.
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 159 inches a year (30-year average)
Wells
Shallow wells, so drilling should be one of the cheaper costs.
The typical well here is about 20 feet deep; a well typically runs $24,000 to $53,000
Growing season
Short. Start seeds indoors and favor cold-hardy crops.
About 127 frost-free days, USDA zone 6a; last frost about May 22, first about September 28
Sun
Weak sun. Solar needs a generator behind it in winter.
About 2.5 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
Low wildfire risk.
U.S. Forest Service wildfire hazard map: Very Low 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: high
Terrain
Steep in places. Driveways, septic, and foundations cost more.
Slopes average about 16%, about 40 feet above sea level
Soil
Expect an engineered septic system. The ground stays wet most of the year. The county's soil test decides.
Silt loam, very poorly drained (USDA soil survey). An engineered system typically runs $15,000 to $25,000
Road
Paved roads are close by.
Nearest paved road usually within about 1.7 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 20 feet, with pump and pressure tank
Septic
$15,000 to $25,000
Engineered system
Solar and batteries
$18,000 to $34,000
Sized for a modest household
Road or driveway
$33,000 to $89,000
From the nearest road to a house site
Clearing
$2,000 to $9,000
A house site, solar, and garden
Total
$93,000 to $210,000
Before the house
Before you make an offer on land here
Soil test
Get a soil test before you count on septic.
The soil stays wet, which can rule out a standard system.
Zoning
Confirm with the borough whether the parcel is zoned.
Rural land in Alaska is often unzoned.
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
2,262 people live in Hoonah-Angoon Census Area, about 0.3 per square mile. It ranks 12th of the 29 Alaska counties we scored, and Alaska ranks 50th of 50 states.