Can you live off-grid in Laclede County, Missouri?
91
of 100
Good with caveats
Yes, with one thing to plan around. Rain is plentiful, about 46 inches a year. The growing season runs about 200 frost-free days. Septic will likely cost more, because rock or a hard layer sits about 25 inches down.
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 270 feet deep; a well typically runs $11,000 to $25,000
Growing season
A full season for most vegetables.
About 200 frost-free days, USDA zone 6b; last frost about April 8, first about October 26
Sun
Good sun. Size the array and battery bank for winter.
About 5.0 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 in places
Wildfire
Low wildfire risk.
U.S. Forest Service wildfire hazard map: Very Low to Moderate 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 3 strong (EF2 or stronger) tornadoes a decade within 25 miles
Terrain
Flat to gentle, easy to build on.
Slopes average about 6%, about 1,200 feet above sea level
Soil
Expect a costlier septic system, because rock or a hard layer sits about 25 inches down. The county's soil test decides.
Silt loam, moderately well 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 Missouri 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
Laclede County zones land outside its towns and publishes its zoning map. Our free lookup shows the district for any address.
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.
Drilled to about 270 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 $8,000
From the nearest road to a house site
Clearing
$1,000 to $4,000
A house site, solar, and garden
Total
$43,000 to $91,000
Before the house
Before you make an offer on land here
Soil test
Get a soil test before you count on septic.
Rock or a hard layer sits about 25 inches down, which can rule out a standard system.
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.
Nearby counties
36,680 people live in Laclede County, about 48 per square mile. It ranks tied for 52nd of the 114 Missouri counties we scored, and Missouri ranks 12th of 50 states.