Can you live off-grid in Carteret County, North Carolina?
70
of 100
Significant challenges
Possible, but hurricanes will be hard. NOAA counts 12 hurricane-strength storms within 50 miles since 1975, so build to the wind code and plan for long outages. Water is easy here, with about 60 inches of rain a year and wells near 90 feet. Flood zones are common here, so look up any parcel on FEMA's flood map before you offer.
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 60 inches a year (PRISM, 1991 to 2020 average)
Wells
Shallow wells, so drilling should be one of the cheaper costs.
The typical well here is about 90 feet deep; a well typically runs $4,000 to $10,000
Growing season
Long enough for a spring and a fall garden.
About 268 frost-free days, USDA zone 8b; last frost about March 10, first about December 2
Sun
Good sun. Size the array and battery bank for winter.
About 5.1 hours of full sun a day, averaged over the year
Flood
Flood zones are common here. Look up any parcel on FEMA's flood map before you offer.
FEMA maps flood zones across much of the county; some land is in the 500-year floodplain
Wildfire
Wildfire risk is high in places. Check the risk for the parcel you want.
U.S. Forest Service wildfire hazard map: Very Low to High here
Storms
Expect about seven hurricanes within 50 miles over 30 years. Build to the wind code and keep a week of fuel and water.
NOAA: 12 hurricane-strength storms within 50 miles since 1975; about 0.6 strong (EF2 or stronger) tornadoes a decade within 25 miles
Terrain
Flat, but the ground stays wet. Build on the higher, drier spot.
Slopes average about 1%, about 10 feet above sea level
Soil
Expect an engineered septic system. The ground stays wet most of the year. The county's soil test decides.
Loam, very poorly drained (USDA soil survey). An engineered system typically runs $15,000 to $25,000
Road
Paved roads are close by.
Nearest paved road usually within about 0.6 miles (OpenStreetMap)
Check a North Carolina 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
North Carolina's State Building Code, including the North Carolina Residential Code for houses, applies throughout the state, and every county and city must run or contract for building inspections. A new house needs a building permit from the county or city inspections department.
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 90 feet, with pump and pressure tank
Septic
$15,000 to $25,000
Engineered system
Solar and batteries
$21,000 to $38,000
Sized for a modest household
Road or driveway
$2,000 to $6,000
From the nearest road to a house site
Clearing
$1,000 to $3,000
A house site, solar, and garden
Total
$43,000 to $82,000
Before the house
Before you make an offer on land here
Flood map
Look up the parcel on FEMA's flood map.
Flood zones are common here. Building in one means flood insurance and extra permits.
Soil test
Get a soil test before you count on septic.
The soil stays wet, 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 places.
Nearby counties
69,615 people live in Carteret County, about 137.1 per square mile. It ranks tied for 98th of the 100 North Carolina counties we scored, and North Carolina ranks 2nd of 50 states.