Can you live off-grid in Norman County, Minnesota?
78
of 100
Significant challenges
Possible, but winter will be hard. The growing season is about 144 frost-free days and winter sun is weak, so plan on a greenhouse and a bigger battery bank or a generator. Septic will likely cost more, because the soil stays wet for long stretches.
What the land says
Rain
Too dry to live on rain. Plan on a well, and on irrigating anything you grow.
About 24 inches a year (PRISM, 1991 to 2020 average)
Wells
Typical well depth. Budget for a mid-range well.
The typical well here is about 180 feet deep; a well typically runs $9,000 to $20,000
Growing season
Short. Start seeds indoors and favor cold-hardy crops.
About 144 frost-free days, USDA zone 3b; last frost about May 8, first about September 30
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 are rare here. Still, look up the parcel on FEMA's flood map.
FEMA maps no flood zones nearby
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 890 feet above sea level
Soil
Expect a costlier septic system, because the soil stays wet for long stretches. The county's soil test decides.
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 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 Norman 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 180 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 $9,000
From the nearest road to a house site
Clearing
$1,000 to $4,000
A house site, solar, and garden
Total
$42,000 to $88,000
Before the house
Before you make an offer on land here
Soil test
Get a soil test before you count on septic.
The soil stays wet, which can rule out a standard system.
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.
Road access
Confirm the parcel fronts a public road or has a recorded easement.
Without one, you may not have a legal way in.
Nearby counties
6,329 people live in Norman County, about 7.3 per square mile. It ranks tied for 76th of the 86 Minnesota counties we scored, and Minnesota ranks 31st of 50 states.