Can you live off-grid in White Pine County, Nevada?
66
of 100
Major concerns
Possible, but hard and costly. Only about 12 inches of rain falls a year, so you will rely on a well (near 150 feet here) or hauled water. The sun is strong, about 5.9 hours of full sun a day, so a smaller solar array covers a household. The growing season is only about 91 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 12 inches a year (PRISM, 1991 to 2020 average)
Wells
Typical well depth. Budget for a mid-range well.
The typical well here is about 150 feet deep; a well typically runs $9,000 to $19,000
Growing season
Very short. A greenhouse makes the difference.
About 91 frost-free days, USDA zone 5b; last frost about June 15, first about September 16
Sun
Strong sun. A modest solar array covers a household.
About 5.9 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 in places
Wildfire
Wildfire risk is high in parts of the county. Check the risk for the parcel you want.
U.S. Forest Service wildfire hazard map: Very Low to Very High here
Storms
Hurricanes and strong tornadoes are rare here.
NOAA: no hurricane-strength storm within 50 miles since 1975; no strong (EF2 or stronger) tornado within 25 miles since 1990
Terrain
Flat to gentle, easy to build on.
Slopes average about 3%, about 6,610 feet above sea level
Soil
Expect a costlier septic system, because rock or a hard layer sits about 26 inches down. The county's soil test decides.
Loam, 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 5.4 miles (OpenStreetMap)
Check a Nevada 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
We found no public zoning map for White Pine County, so call the county planning office with the parcel number to ask whether the land is zoned.
Building code
Nevada has no statewide residential building code for private homes: each city and county decides whether to adopt a building code, and where it has, its building department issues the permits. The codes the state adopts itself cover only buildings on state property.
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 150 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
$18,000 to $47,000
From the nearest road to a house site
Clearing
$1,000 to $5,000
A house site, solar, and garden
Total
$55,000 to $124,000
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 26 inches down, which can rule out a standard system.
Wildfire
Ask an insurance agent whether they will write a policy.
The U.S. Forest Service rates wildfire risk high in parts of the county.
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.
Nearby counties
8,522 people live in White Pine County, about 1 per square mile. It ranks tied for 7th of the 17 Nevada counties we scored, and Nevada ranks 49th of 50 states.