Possible, but hard and costly. Only about 13 inches of rain falls a year, so you will rely on a well or hauled water. The growing season is only about 84 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 13 inches a year (PRISM, 1991 to 2020 average)
Wells
Well depth varies a lot here. Get a local driller's quote before you offer.
Typical well depths here range from 140 feet to 470 feet
Growing season
Very short. A greenhouse makes the difference.
About 84 frost-free days, USDA zone 6b; last frost about June 16, first about September 9
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 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: Low to 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
Rolling ground. Look for a flat house site.
Slopes average about 8%, about 4,090 feet above sea level
Soil
Expect a costlier septic system, because rock or a hard layer sits about 33 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
Dirt tracks. Plan to build or maintain your own road.
Nearest road often a dirt track, about 0.5 miles away (OpenStreetMap)
Check an Oregon 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
Crook County zones land outside its towns and publishes its zoning map. Our free lookup shows the district for any address.
Building code
Oregon's building code applies uniformly statewide, including the Oregon Residential Specialty Code for houses (based on the International Residential Code), and cities and counties cannot set different requirements without state approval. City or county building departments issue house permits and inspect, and the state Building Codes Division does it for some counties.
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.
Depends on depth, which varies here. Get a driller's quote.
Septic
$10,000 to $20,000
Mound, sand filter, or treatment unit
Solar and batteries
$19,000 to $36,000
Sized for a modest household
Road or driveway
$10,000 to $25,000
From the nearest road to a house site
Clearing
$1,000 to $5,000
A house site, solar, and garden
Total
$40,000 to $85,000
Before the house, plus the well
Before you make an offer on land here
Well depth
Get a local driller's depth estimate.
Typical well depths here range from 140 feet to 470 feet.
Soil test
Get a soil test before you count on septic.
Rock or a hard layer sits about 33 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.
Nearby counties
26,952 people live in Crook County, about 9 per square mile. It ranks tied for 24th of the 36 Oregon counties we scored, and Oregon ranks 46th of 50 states.