Can you live off-grid in Powder River County, Montana?
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Major concerns
Possible, but hard and costly. Only about 15 inches of rain falls a year, so you will rely on a well (near 160 feet here) or hauled water. The growing season is only about 128 frost-free days, so plan on cold-hardy crops and a greenhouse.
What the land says
Rain
Desert rain. Plan on a well or hauled water, and on irrigating anything you grow.
About 15 inches a year (PRISM, 1991 to 2020 average)
Wells
Typical well depth. Budget for a mid-range well.
The typical well here is about 160 feet deep; a well typically runs $8,000 to $18,000
Growing season
Short. Start seeds indoors and favor cold-hardy crops.
About 128 frost-free days, USDA zone 4b; last frost about May 18, first about September 24
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 are rare here. Still, look up the parcel on FEMA's flood map.
FEMA maps no flood zones nearby
Wildfire
Moderate wildfire risk. Keep brush cleared around the house.
U.S. Forest Service wildfire hazard map: Low to Moderate here
Storms
Hurricanes and strong tornadoes are rare here.
NOAA: no hurricane-strength storm within 50 miles since 1975; about 0.3 strong (EF2 or stronger) tornadoes a decade within 25 miles
Terrain
Rolling ground. Look for a flat house site.
Slopes average about 8%, about 3,540 feet above sea level
Soil
Expect a costlier septic system, because rock or a hard layer sits about 16 inches down. The county's soil test decides.
Clay loam, well drained (USDA soil survey). A mound, sand filter, or treatment unit typically runs $10,000 to $20,000
Road
Dirt tracks. Plan to build or maintain your own road.
Nearest road often a dirt track, about 1 mile away (OpenStreetMap)
Check a Montana 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
Montana's state building code does not apply to a house unless the city, town, or county has adopted it, so where none has, the state issues no building permit for a home. The state energy code still applies to new homes, through the builder's self-certification.
Rainwater
Collecting it is allowed.
Composting toilets
Allowed.
Water rights
Water belongs to whoever claimed it first. A new well or pond may need a state permit, and a creek may already be claimed.
Drilled to about 160 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
$9,000 to $21,000
From the nearest road to a house site
Clearing
$1,000 to $4,000
A house site, solar, and garden
Total
$46,000 to $98,000
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 16 inches down, which can rule out a standard system.
Road access
Confirm a recorded easement to the parcel.
The nearest roads are often dirt tracks.
Zoning
Confirm with the county whether the parcel is zoned.
Rural land in Montana is often unzoned.
Nearby counties
1,743 people live in Powder River County, about 0.5 per square mile. It ranks 55th of the 56 Montana counties we scored, and Montana ranks 42nd of 50 states.