Yes, with two things to plan around. Water is easy here, with about 42 inches of rain a year and wells near 40 feet. Flood zones cover parts of the county, so look up any parcel on FEMA's flood map before you offer. Septic will likely cost more, because the soil stays wet for long stretches.
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 42 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 40 feet deep; a well typically runs $3,000 to $7,000
Growing season
Enough for most vegetables. Start tomatoes and peppers indoors.
About 174 frost-free days, USDA zone 6a; last frost about April 26, first about October 19
Sun
Good sun. Size the array and battery bank for winter.
About 4.5 hours of full sun a day, averaged over the year
Flood
Flood zones cover parts of the county. Look up any parcel on FEMA's flood map before you offer.
FEMA maps flood zones in parts of the county
Wildfire
Low wildfire risk.
U.S. Forest Service wildfire hazard map: Very Low here
Storms
Hurricanes and strong tornadoes are rare here.
NOAA: no hurricane-strength storm within 50 miles since 1975; about 1 strong (EF2 or stronger) tornado a decade within 25 miles
Terrain
Flat, but the ground stays wet. Build on the higher, drier spot.
Slopes average about 1%, about 1,080 feet above sea level
Soil
Expect a costlier septic system, because the soil stays wet for long stretches. The county's soil test decides.
Clay loam, poorly 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 0.6 miles (OpenStreetMap)
Check an Ohio 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
Set by the township. County zoning applies only in a township whose voters approved it, so ask the township office which rules cover the parcel.
Building code
The Residential Code of Ohio covers every one- to three-family home statewide, but only certified city, township, or county building departments enforce it. Where none covers the parcel, there are no plans to submit or inspections to request, though the house must still meet the code.
Rainwater
Collecting it is allowed.
Composting toilets
Allowed with a permit and an approved unit.
Water rights
Owners of land along a creek or lake can make reasonable use of its water.
Drilled to about 40 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
$3,000 to $7,000
From the nearest road to a house site
Clearing
$1,000 to $4,000
A house site, solar, and garden
Total
$35,000 to $73,000
Before the house
Before you make an offer on land here
Flood map
Look up the parcel on FEMA's flood map.
Flood zones cover parts of the county. 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.
Zoning
Call the town or township office with the parcel's address.
Set by the township. County zoning applies only in a township whose voters approved it, so ask the township office which rules cover the parcel.
Nearby counties
38,845 people live in Champaign County, about 90.6 per square mile. It ranks tied for 52nd of the 88 Ohio counties we scored, and Ohio ranks 18th of 50 states.