Can you live off-grid in Delaware County, Indiana?
89
of 100
Good with caveats
Yes, with two things to plan around. Water is easy here, with about 42 inches of rain a year and wells near 120 feet. NOAA counts about four strong tornadoes a decade within 25 miles, so a storm shelter belongs in the plan. Septic will likely cost more, because rock or a hard layer sits about 42 inches down.
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 42 inches a year (PRISM, 1991 to 2020 average)
Wells
Shallow wells, so drilling should be one of the cheaper costs.
The typical well here is about 120 feet deep; a well typically runs $6,000 to $13,000
Growing season
Enough for most vegetables. Start tomatoes and peppers indoors.
About 172 frost-free days, USDA zone 6a; last frost about April 28, first about October 18
Sun
Good sun. Size the array and battery bank for winter.
About 4.6 hours of full sun a day, averaged over the year
Flood
Flood zones run along creeks and rivers here. Look up the parcel on FEMA's flood map.
FEMA maps flood zones within a quarter mile in places
Wildfire
Low wildfire risk.
U.S. Forest Service wildfire hazard map: Very Low here
Storms
Strong tornadoes are common. A storm shelter belongs in the plan.
NOAA: no hurricane-strength storm within 50 miles since 1975; about 4 strong (EF2 or stronger) tornadoes a decade within 25 miles
Terrain
Flat, but the ground stays wet. Build on the higher, drier spot.
Slopes average about 1%, about 920 feet above sea level
Soil
Expect a costlier septic system, because rock or a hard layer sits about 42 inches down. The county's soil test decides.
Silt loam, somewhat 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 0.5 miles (OpenStreetMap)
Check an Indiana 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
Delaware County zones land outside its towns and publishes its zoning map. Our free lookup shows the district for any address.
Building code
Indiana Residential Code (based on the International Residential Code) is the statewide minimum; enforcement is local.
Rainwater
Collecting it is allowed.
Composting toilets
Allowed.
Water rights
Owners of land along a creek or lake can make reasonable use of its water.
Drilled to about 120 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
$3,000 to $8,000
From the nearest road to a house site
Clearing
$1,000 to $4,000
A house site, solar, and garden
Total
$38,000 to $78,000
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 42 inches down, which can rule out a standard system.
Flood map
Look up the parcel on FEMA's flood map.
Flood zones run along creeks and rivers here. Building in one means flood insurance and extra permits.
Zoning
Look up the parcel's zoning district with our free tool.
The county publishes its zoning map.
Nearby counties
112,321 people live in Delaware County, about 286.5 per square mile. It ranks tied for 75th of the 92 Indiana counties we scored, and Indiana ranks 6th of 50 states.