Possible, but hard and costly. Only about 20 inches of rain falls a year, so you will rely on a well or hauled water. The growing season is only about 113 frost-free days, so plan on cold-hardy crops and a greenhouse.
What the land says
Rain
Too dry to live on rain. Plan on a well, and on irrigating anything you grow.
About 20 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 160 feet to 1,260 feet
Growing season
Very short. A greenhouse makes the difference.
About 113 frost-free days, USDA zone 6b; last frost about May 17, first about October 2
Sun
Good sun. Size the array and battery bank for winter.
About 4.7 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
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
Steep in places. Driveways, septic, and foundations cost more.
Slopes average about 19%, about 4,210 feet above sea level
Soil
Expect a costlier septic system, because rock or a hard layer sits about 32 inches down. The county's soil test decides.
Silt 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 1.6 miles (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
We found no public zoning map for Wallowa County, so call the county planning office with the parcel number to ask whether the land is zoned.
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 160 feet to 1,260 feet.
Soil test
Get a soil test before you count on septic.
Rock or a hard layer sits about 32 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
7,674 people live in Wallowa County, about 2.4 per square mile. It ranks tied for 33rd of the 36 Oregon counties we scored, and Oregon ranks 46th of 50 states.