Possible, but hard and costly. NOAA counts five hurricane-strength storms within 50 miles since 1975, so build to the wind code and plan for long outages. The growing season runs about 365 frost-free days, long enough for a spring and a fall garden. Typical well depths here range from 70 feet to 1,010 feet, so get a local driller's quote.
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 46 inches a year (PRISM, 1991 to 2020 average)
Wells
Well depth varies a lot here. Get a local driller's quote before you offer.
Typical well depths here range from 70 feet to 1,010 feet
Growing season
Long enough for a spring and a fall garden.
About 365 frost-free days, USDA zone 11b; last frost about January 1, first about December 31
Sun
Strong sun. A modest solar array covers a household.
About 5.9 hours of full sun a day, averaged over the year
Flood
Flood zones are common here. Look up any parcel on FEMA's flood map before you offer.
FEMA maps flood zones across the county
Wildfire
Low wildfire risk.
U.S. Forest Service wildfire hazard map: Very Low here
Storms
Expect about three hurricanes within 50 miles over 30 years. Build to the wind code and keep a week of fuel and water.
NOAA: five hurricane-strength storms 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 0%, about 0 feet above sea level
Soil
Expect a costlier septic system, because rock or a hard layer sits about 17 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
Paved roads are close by.
Nearest paved road usually within about 0.3 miles (OpenStreetMap)
Check a Florida 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
Monroe County zones land outside its towns and publishes its zoning map. Our free lookup shows the district for any address.
Building code
Florida Building Code mandatory statewide, updated on a 3-year cycle. Local amendments cannot reduce standards.
Rainwater
Collecting it is allowed.
Composting toilets
Allowed with a permit and an approved unit.
Water rights
Owners of land along a creek or lake can make reasonable use of its water.
Depends on depth, which varies here. Get a driller's quote.
Septic
$10,000 to $20,000
Mound, sand filter, or treatment unit
Solar and batteries
$17,000 to $36,000
Sized for a modest household
Road or driveway
$3,000 to $7,000
From the nearest road to a house site
Clearing
$1,000 to $3,000
A house site, solar, and garden
Total
$30,000 to $66,000
Before the house, plus the well
Before you make an offer on land here
Well depth
Get a local driller's depth estimate.
Typical well depths here range from 70 feet to 1,010 feet.
Flood map
Look up the parcel on FEMA's flood map.
Flood zones are common here. Building in one means flood insurance and extra permits.
Soil test
Get a soil test before you count on septic.
Rock or a hard layer sits about 17 inches down, which can rule out a standard system.
Nearby counties
80,614 people live in Monroe County, about 82 per square mile. It ranks 67th of the 67 Florida counties we scored, and Florida ranks 33rd of 50 states.