Best States / Missouri / Dent County
Dent County, MO · off-grid fact sheet
Can you live off-grid in Dent County, Missouri? 90
of 100
Good with caveats
Yes. We found no major drawback on the land. Rain is plentiful, about 46 inches a year.
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 46 inches a year (PRISM, 1991 to 2020 average)
Wells
Typical well depth. Budget for a mid-range well.
The typical well here is about 300 feet deep; a well typically runs $12,000 to $27,000
Growing season
A full season for most vegetables.
About 199 frost-free days, USDA zone 7a; last frost about April 10, first about October 26
Sun
Good sun. Size the array and battery bank for winter.
About 4.9 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 within a quarter mile across much of the county
Wildfire
Low wildfire risk.
U.S. Forest Service wildfire hazard map: Low here
Storms
Hurricanes and strong tornadoes are rare here.
NOAA: no hurricane-strength storm within 50 miles since 1975; about 0.8 strong (EF2 or stronger) tornadoes a decade within 25 miles
Terrain
Flat to gentle, easy to build on.
Slopes average about 6%, about 1,270 feet above sea level
Soil
Good ground for a standard septic system. The county's soil test decides.
Silt 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 0.6 miles (OpenStreetMap)
Check a Missouri parcel, or plan the one you own Screen a property Considering a parcel here? Build a homestead plan Already own land here?
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
Rural land here is often unzoned. Confirm with the county before you build.
Building code
No statewide building code. Counties and municipalities adopt their own or none.
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.
Look up a parcel's zoning free, or read Is it legal to live off-grid in Missouri? for permits, septic, wells, and the counties that opt out.
What it costs to set up a homestead here Well
$12,000 to $27,000
Drilled to about 300 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 $8,000
From the nearest road to a house site
Clearing
$1,000 to $4,000
A house site, solar, and garden
Total
$39,000 to $83,000
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
Confirm with the county whether the parcel is zoned.
Rural land in Missouri is often unzoned.
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 14,647 people live in Dent County, about 19.5 per square mile. It ranks tied for 62nd of the 114 Missouri counties we scored, and Missouri ranks 12th of 50 states.
Phelps County, MO · Crawford County, MO · Shannon County, MO · Texas County, MO · Reynolds County, MO · Pulaski County, MO · All scored Missouri counties
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Score a parcel free → Sources: FEMA flood maps, USGS and state driller well records, USGS brackish groundwater study, USDA soil survey, USGS 3DEP elevation, U.S. Forest Service wildfire hazard, USGS seismic hazard, USGS PAD-US public land, U.S. Census housing counts, USDA county land values, FCC broadband map, CMS hospital list. Rainfall: PRISM Group, Oregon State University, prism.oregonstate.edu (1991-2020 normals, 4 km grid; accessed 2026-09-17). Temperatures: PRISM Group, Oregon State University, prism.oregonstate.edu (1991-2020 temperature normals, 4 km grid; accessed 2026-09-26). Storms: NOAA hurricane tracks (HURDAT2, 1975-2025) and Storm Prediction Center tornado paths (EF2+, 1990-2025). Roads: © OpenStreetMap contributors . Data updated September 2026.