Can you live off-grid in Jackson County, Mississippi?
83
of 100
Good with caveats
Yes, but hurricanes will be the challenge. NOAA counts seven hurricane-strength storms within 50 miles since 1975, so build to the wind code and plan for long outages. Rain is plentiful, about 68 inches a year. Flood zones cover parts of the county, so look up any parcel on FEMA's flood map before you offer.
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 68 inches a year (PRISM, 1991 to 2020 average)
Wells
Typical well depth. Budget for a mid-range well.
The typical well here is about 250 feet deep; a well typically runs $9,000 to $19,000
Growing season
Long enough for a spring and a fall garden.
About 278 frost-free days, USDA zone 9a; last frost about February 17, first about November 27
Sun
Good sun. Size the array and battery bank for winter.
About 5.3 hours of full sun a day, averaged over the year
Flood
Flood zones cover parts of the county. Look up any parcel on FEMA's flood map before you offer.
FEMA maps flood zones in parts of the county
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: Low to High here
Storms
Expect about four hurricanes within 50 miles over 30 years. Build to the wind code and keep a week of fuel and water.
NOAA: seven hurricane-strength storms within 50 miles since 1975; about 1 strong (EF2 or stronger) tornado a decade within 25 miles
Terrain
Flat, but the ground stays wet. Build on the higher, drier spot.
Slopes average about 1%, about 50 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 1 mile (OpenStreetMap)
Check a Mississippi 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
Jackson County zones land outside its towns and publishes its zoning map. Our free lookup shows the district for any address.
Building code
Mississippi's 2014 statewide building code (the International Residential Code for homes) let each county and city opt out, though the five coastal counties must enforce it. Since July 2022 every county must require a permit to build in its unincorporated areas, even where it enforces no code.
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 250 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
$2,000 to $6,000
From the nearest road to a house site
Clearing
$1,000 to $3,000
A house site, solar, and garden
Total
$35,000 to $73,000
Before the house
Before you make an offer on land here
Flood map
Look up the parcel on FEMA's flood map.
Flood zones cover parts of the county. Building in one means flood insurance and extra permits.
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 county publishes its zoning map.
Nearby counties
146,389 people live in Jackson County, about 202.5 per square mile. It ranks 76th of the 82 Mississippi counties we scored, and Mississippi ranks 7th of 50 states.