Can you live off-grid in Colleton County, South Carolina?
82
of 100
Good with caveats
Yes, but water will be the challenge. Wells run deep, near 440 feet, so budget $15,000 to $34,000 for one. The growing season runs about 254 frost-free days, long enough for a spring and a fall garden. NOAA counts four hurricane-strength storms within 50 miles since 1975, so build to the wind code and plan for long outages.
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 50 inches a year (PRISM, 1991 to 2020 average)
Wells
Deep wells. Get a driller's quote before you offer.
The typical well here is about 440 feet deep; a well typically runs $15,000 to $34,000
Growing season
Long enough for a spring and a fall garden.
About 254 frost-free days, USDA zone 8b; last frost about March 12, first about November 24
Sun
Good sun. Size the array and battery bank for winter.
About 5.2 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 parts of the county
Wildfire
Wildfire risk is high across the county. Plan cleared ground around the house and fire-resistant materials.
U.S. Forest Service wildfire hazard map: High here
Storms
Expect about two hurricanes within 50 miles over 30 years. Build to the wind code and keep a week of fuel and water.
NOAA: four hurricane-strength storms within 50 miles since 1975; about 0.8 strong (EF2 or stronger) tornadoes a decade within 25 miles
Earthquakes
Strong shaking is possible. Build to the seismic code and brace the water tank.
USGS seismic hazard map: very high
Terrain
Flat, but the ground stays wet. Build on the higher, drier spot.
Slopes average about 1%, about 80 feet above sea level
Soil
Good ground for a standard septic system. The county's soil test decides.
Loam, somewhat excessively drained (USDA soil survey). A standard system typically runs $5,000 to $10,000
Road
Paved roads are close by.
Nearest paved road usually within about 0.5 miles (OpenStreetMap)
Check a South 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
Colleton County zones land outside its towns and publishes its zoning map. Our free lookup shows the district for any address.
Building code
South Carolina requires every county and city to enforce the statewide building codes (the International Residential Code with state changes for houses), so a new house needs a permit and inspections. A county may be exempt for up to five years at a time by declaring it cannot afford the service.
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 440 feet, with pump and pressure tank
Septic
$5,000 to $10,000
Standard system
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
$42,000 to $88,000
Before the house
Before you make an offer on land here
Well cost
Get a driller's quote.
Wells here run near 440 feet, so the well is a large cost.
Wildfire
Ask an insurance agent whether they will write a policy.
The U.S. Forest Service rates wildfire risk high across the county.
Flood map
Look up the parcel on FEMA's flood map.
Flood zones run along creeks and rivers here. Building in one means flood insurance and extra permits.
Nearby counties
38,874 people live in Colleton County, about 36.8 per square mile. It ranks tied for 42nd of the 46 South Carolina counties we scored, and South Carolina ranks 10th of 50 states.