Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, AK · off-grid fact sheet
Can you live off-grid in Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska?
44
of 100
Not recommended
Possible, but hard and costly. Only about 18 inches of rain falls a year, so you will rely on a well (near 60 feet here) or hauled water. The growing season is about 81 frost-free days and winter sun is weak, so plan on a greenhouse and a bigger battery bank or a generator.
What the land says
Rain
Too dry to live on rain. Plan on a well, and on irrigating anything you grow.
About 18 inches a year (30-year average)
Wells
Shallow wells, so drilling should be one of the cheaper costs.
The typical well here is about 60 feet deep; a well typically runs $24,000 to $53,000
Growing season
Very short. A greenhouse makes the difference.
About 81 frost-free days, USDA zone 2b; last frost about June 5, first about August 26
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
Wildfire risk is high in parts of the county. Check the risk for the parcel you want.
U.S. Forest Service wildfire hazard map: Very Low to Very High 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
Flat, but the ground stays wet. Build on the higher, drier spot.
Slopes average about 4%, about 710 feet above sea level
Soil
Expect a costlier septic system, because rock or a hard layer sits about 22 inches down. 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
Dirt tracks. Plan to build or maintain your own road.
Nearest road often a dirt track, about 1 mile away (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 60 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
$88,000 to $205,000
Before the house
Before you make an offer on land here
Soil test
Get a soil test before you count on septic.
Rock or a hard layer sits about 22 inches down, which can rule out a standard system.
Wildfire
Ask an insurance agent whether they will write a policy.
The U.S. Forest Service rates wildfire risk high in parts of the county.
Road access
Confirm a recorded easement to the parcel.
The nearest roads are often dirt tracks.
Nearby counties
5,129 people live in Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, about 0 per square mile. It ranks tied for 23rd of the 29 Alaska counties we scored, and Alaska ranks 50th of 50 states.