Can you live off-grid in Petersburg Borough, Alaska?
69
of 100
Major concerns
Possible, but hard and costly. Solar is weaker here, about 2.5 hours of full sun a day, so plan a bigger battery bank or a generator. Water is easy here, with about 104 inches of rain a year and wells near 170 feet. Septic will likely cost more, because the soil stays wet for long stretches.
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 104 inches a year (30-year average)
Wells
Typical well depth. Budget for a mid-range well.
The typical well here is about 170 feet deep; a well typically runs $18,000 to $40,000
Growing season
Enough for most vegetables. Start tomatoes and peppers indoors.
About 150 frost-free days, USDA zone 6a; last frost about May 12, first about October 9
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
Terrain
Rolling ground. Look for a flat house site.
Slopes average about 14%, about 20 feet above sea level
Soil
Expect a costlier septic system, because the soil stays wet for long stretches. The county's soil test decides.
Silt loam, poorly drained (USDA soil survey). A mound, sand filter, or treatment unit typically runs $10,000 to $20,000
Road
Paved roads are close by.
Nearest paved road usually within about 6.7 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 170 feet, with pump and pressure tank
Septic
$10,000 to $20,000
Mound, sand filter, or treatment unit
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
$82,000 to $192,000
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
3,427 people live in Petersburg Borough, about 1.2 per square mile. It ranks tied for 2nd of the 29 Alaska counties we scored, and Alaska ranks 50th of 50 states.