Yes, with one thing to plan around. Wells are shallow here, near 110 feet, which keeps drilling costs down. The ground is mostly flat and drains well, which keeps building simple. The growing season is about 146 frost-free days and winter sun is weak, so plan on a greenhouse and a bigger battery bank or a generator.
What the land says
Rain
Rain helps, but plan on a well for most of your water and on watering the garden in dry months.
About 25 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 110 feet deep; a well typically runs $6,000 to $15,000
Growing season
Short. Start seeds indoors and favor cold-hardy crops.
About 146 frost-free days, USDA zone 4a; last frost about May 7, first about October 1
Sun
Fair sun. Plan a larger array or a generator for winter.
About 4.5 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
Strong tornadoes pass through now and then. A safe room is worth pricing.
NOAA: no hurricane-strength storm 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 990 feet above sea level
Soil
Good ground for a standard septic system. The county's soil test decides.
Loam, moderately 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 0.8 miles (OpenStreetMap)
Check a Minnesota 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
Clay County zones land outside its towns and publishes its zoning map. Our free lookup shows the district for any address.
Building code
The Minnesota State Building Code (the 2018 International Residential Code with Minnesota changes, for homes) applies statewide, but a city, township, or county enforces it only if it has adopted the code by ordinance. Whether a new home needs a building permit depends on that local adoption, so ask the city, township, or county.
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 110 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 $9,000
From the nearest road to a house site
Clearing
$1,000 to $4,000
A house site, solar, and garden
Total
$34,000 to $72,000
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.
Zoning
Look up the parcel's zoning district with our free tool.
The county publishes its zoning map.
Soil test
Get a soil test before you count on septic.
The county has to approve the ground before it issues a septic permit.
Nearby counties
66,258 people live in Clay County, about 63.4 per square mile. It ranks tied for 68th of the 86 Minnesota counties we scored, and Minnesota ranks 31st of 50 states.