Can you live off-grid in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana?
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Significant challenges
Possible, but water will be hard. Wells run deep, near 610 feet, so budget $20,000 to $43,000 for one. The growing season runs about 278 frost-free days, long enough for a spring and a fall garden. NOAA counts four hurricane-strength storms within 50 miles since 1975, so build to the wind code and plan for long outages.
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 65 inches a year (PRISM, 1991 to 2020 average)
Wells
Very deep wells. The well may be your biggest single cost.
The typical well here is about 610 feet deep; a well typically runs $20,000 to $43,000
Growing season
Long enough for a spring and a fall garden.
About 278 frost-free days, USDA zone 9a; last frost about February 26, first about December 1
Sun
Good sun. Size the array and battery bank for winter.
About 5.2 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 across much of the county. Plan cleared ground around the house and fire-resistant materials.
U.S. Forest Service wildfire hazard map: Moderate to High here
Storms
Expect about two hurricanes within 50 miles over 30 years. Build to the wind code and keep a week of fuel and water. Strong tornadoes pass through now and then. A safe room is worth pricing.
NOAA: four hurricane-strength storms within 50 miles since 1975; about 2 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 40 feet above sea level
Soil
Good ground for a standard septic system. The county's soil test decides.
Loam, well drained (USDA soil survey). A standard system typically runs $5,000 to $10,000
Road
Paved roads are close by.
Nearest paved road usually within about 1.2 miles (OpenStreetMap)
Check a Louisiana 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
St. Tammany Parish zones land outside its towns and publishes its zoning map. Our free lookup shows the district for any address.
Building code
Louisiana's Uniform Construction Code, which includes the International Residential Code for homes, is mandatory statewide, and every parish and city must enforce it with permits and inspections, including in unincorporated areas.
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 610 feet, with pump and pressure tank
Septic
$5,000 to $10,000
Standard system
Solar and batteries
$18,000 to $34,000
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
$47,000 to $97,000
Before the house
Before you make an offer on land here
Well cost
Get a driller's quote.
Wells here run near 610 feet, so the well is a large cost.
Wildfire
Ask an insurance agent whether they will write a policy.
The U.S. Forest Service rates wildfire risk high across much of the county.
Zoning
Look up the parcel's zoning district with our free tool.
The parish publishes its zoning map.
Nearby counties
275,583 people live in St. Tammany Parish, about 326 per square mile. It ranks 46th of the 64 Louisiana counties we scored, and Louisiana ranks 24th of 50 states.