Can you live off-grid in Washington County, North Carolina?
78
of 100
Significant challenges
Possible, but hurricanes will be hard. NOAA counts six 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 53 inches of rain a year and wells near 120 feet. Septic will likely cost more, because the soil stays wet most of the year.
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 53 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 120 feet deep; a well typically runs $5,000 to $11,000
Growing season
A full season for most vegetables.
About 238 frost-free days, USDA zone 8a; last frost about March 25, first about November 19
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 rare here. Still, look up the parcel on FEMA's flood map.
FEMA maps no flood zones nearby
Wildfire
Low wildfire risk.
U.S. Forest Service wildfire hazard map: Very Low to Moderate here
Storms
Expect about four hurricanes within 50 miles over 30 years. Build to the wind code and keep a week of fuel and water. Strong tornadoes pass through now and then. A safe room is worth pricing.
NOAA: six hurricane-strength storms within 50 miles since 1975; about 2 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 0%, 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 0.8 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 120 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
$44,000 to $84,000
Before the house
Before you make an offer on land here
Soil test
Get a soil test before you count on septic.
The soil stays wet, which can rule out a standard system.
Zoning
Confirm with the county whether the parcel is zoned.
Rural land in North Carolina is often unzoned.
Road access
Confirm the parcel fronts a public road or has a recorded easement.
Without one, you may not have a legal way in.
Nearby counties
10,713 people live in Washington County, about 30.9 per square mile. It ranks 92nd of the 100 North Carolina counties we scored, and North Carolina ranks 2nd of 50 states.