Can you live off-grid in Nantucket County, Massachusetts?
84
of 100
Good with caveats
Yes. We found no major drawback on the land. Water is easy here, with about 46 inches of rain a year and wells near 30 feet. The growing season runs about 233 frost-free days.
What the land says
Rain
Rain can supply much of a household's water with a large tank. The sandy soil dries fast, so plan to water the garden.
About 46 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 30 feet deep; a well typically runs $4,000 to $9,000
Growing season
A full season for most vegetables.
About 233 frost-free days, USDA zone 7b; last frost about April 2, first about November 22
Sun
Good sun. Size the array and battery bank for winter.
About 4.7 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 in places
Wildfire
Low wildfire risk.
U.S. Forest Service wildfire hazard map: Very Low 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 3%, about 20 feet above sea level
Soil
Sandy and fast-draining. Septic may need an extra treatment step, and garden beds need compost to hold water. The county's soil test decides.
Sand, excessively 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 0.3 miles (OpenStreetMap)
Check a Massachusetts 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
Set by the town, not the county. The rules depend on which town the parcel is in.
Building code
The Massachusetts State Building Code (780 CMR, 10th edition, which adopts the 2021 International Residential Code for homes) applies in every city and town. Each city and town must employ a building commissioner or inspector to enforce it, so the town building department is where you get your permit.
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.
Drilled to about 30 feet, with pump and pressure tank
Septic
$5,000 to $10,000
Standard system
Solar and batteries
$21,000 to $31,000
Sized for a modest household
Road or driveway
$4,000 to $10,000
From the nearest road to a house site
Clearing
$1,000 to $5,000
A house site, solar, and garden
Total
$34,000 to $65,000
Before the house
Before you make an offer on land here
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.
Soil test
Get a soil test before you count on septic.
Sandy ground drains fast, and some counties require an extra treatment step.
Zoning
Call the town office with the parcel's address.
Zoning here is set by the town, not the county.
Nearby counties
14,444 people live in Nantucket County, about 312.7 per square mile. It ranks 12th of the 13 Massachusetts counties we scored, and Massachusetts ranks 22nd of 50 states.