Can you live off-grid in Madison County, Missouri?
87
of 100
Good with caveats
Yes, but water will be the challenge. Wells run deep, near 550 feet, so budget $21,000 to $45,000 for one. NOAA counts about five strong tornadoes a decade within 25 miles, so a storm shelter belongs in the plan.
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 47 inches a year (PRISM, 1991 to 2020 average)
Wells
Deep wells. Get a driller's quote before you offer.
The typical well here is about 550 feet deep; a well typically runs $21,000 to $45,000
Growing season
A full season for most vegetables.
About 197 frost-free days, USDA zone 7a; last frost about April 10, first about October 25
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 in places
Wildfire
Low wildfire risk.
U.S. Forest Service wildfire hazard map: Very Low here
Storms
Strong tornadoes are common. A storm shelter belongs in the plan.
NOAA: no hurricane-strength storm within 50 miles since 1975; about 5 strong (EF2 or stronger) tornadoes a decade within 25 miles
Earthquakes
Strong shaking is possible. Build to the seismic code and brace the water tank.
USGS seismic hazard map: high
Terrain
Rolling ground. Look for a flat house site.
Slopes average about 11%, about 730 feet above sea level
Soil
Good ground for a standard septic system. The county's soil test decides.
Silt loam, somewhat excessively 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 0.8 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
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.
Drilled to about 550 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
$48,000 to $101,000
Before the house
Before you make an offer on land here
Well cost
Get a driller's quote.
Wells here run near 550 feet, so the well is a large cost.
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.
Nearby counties
12,698 people live in Madison County, about 25.7 per square mile. It ranks tied for 93rd of the 114 Missouri counties we scored, and Missouri ranks 12th of 50 states.