Can you live off-grid in Clearwater County, Minnesota?
76
of 100
Significant challenges
Possible, but the short season will be hard. The growing season is only about 136 frost-free days, so plan on cold-hardy crops and a greenhouse. Wells are shallow here, near 90 feet, which keeps drilling costs down. The U.S. Forest Service rates wildfire risk high across much of the county, so plan cleared ground around the house.
What the land says
Rain
Too dry to live on rain. Plan on a well, and on irrigating anything you grow.
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 90 feet deep; a well typically runs $6,000 to $13,000
Growing season
Short. Start seeds indoors and favor cold-hardy crops.
About 136 frost-free days, USDA zone 3b; last frost about May 14, first about September 28
Sun
Good sun. Size the array and battery bank for winter.
About 4.5 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: Very Low to Very High here
Storms
Hurricanes and strong tornadoes are rare here.
NOAA: no hurricane-strength storm within 50 miles since 1975; about 0.3 strong (EF2 or stronger) tornadoes a decade within 25 miles
Terrain
Flat to gentle, easy to build on.
Slopes average about 1%, about 1,310 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 1.1 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
We found no public zoning map for Clearwater County, so call the county planning office with the parcel number to ask whether the land is zoned.
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 90 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
$33,000 to $71,000
Before the house
Before you make an offer on land here
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
Call the county planning office with the parcel number.
There is no public zoning map, so we cannot tell whether the land is zoned.
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
8,644 people live in Clearwater County, about 8.7 per square mile. It ranks tied for 85th of the 86 Minnesota counties we scored, and Minnesota ranks 31st of 50 states.