Possible, but hard and costly. Only about 8 inches of rain falls a year, so you will rely on a well or hauled water. The ground is mostly flat and drains well, which keeps building simple. The growing season is only about 89 frost-free days, so plan on cold-hardy crops and a greenhouse.
What the land says
Rain
Desert rain. Plan on a well or hauled water, and on irrigating anything you grow.
About 8 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 140 feet to 690 feet
Growing season
Very short. A greenhouse makes the difference.
About 89 frost-free days, USDA zone 5a; last frost about June 13, first about September 11
Sun
Good sun. Size the array and battery bank for winter.
About 5.3 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
Terrain
Flat to gentle, easy to build on.
Slopes average about 1%, about 5,010 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
Dirt tracks. Plan to build or maintain your own road.
Nearest road often a dirt track, about 0.5 miles away (OpenStreetMap)
Check an Idaho 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
We found no public zoning map for Butte County, so call the county planning office with the parcel number to ask whether the land is zoned.
Building code
Idaho's residential code (the 2018 International Residential Code with state changes) is enforced only by cities and counties that choose to run a building permit program; where a county has none, there is no county building permit for a house.
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.