Can you live off-grid in Georgetown County, South Carolina?
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Significant challenges
Possible, but water will be hard. Wells run deep, near 540 feet, so budget $19,000 to $40,000 for one. The growing season runs about 256 frost-free days, long enough for a spring and a fall garden. NOAA counts six 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 55 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 540 feet deep; a well typically runs $19,000 to $40,000
Growing season
Long enough for a spring and a fall garden.
About 256 frost-free days, USDA zone 8b; last frost about March 18, first about November 25
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 are common here. Look up any parcel on FEMA's flood map before you offer.
FEMA maps flood zones across much of the county
Wildfire
Wildfire risk is high across much of the county. Plan cleared ground around the house and fire-resistant materials.
U.S. Forest Service wildfire hazard map: Moderate to Very High 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.
NOAA: six hurricane-strength storms within 50 miles since 1975; about 0.6 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 1%, about 0 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 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
Georgetown 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 540 feet, with pump and pressure tank
Septic
$15,000 to $25,000
Engineered 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
$55,000 to $110,000
Before the house
Before you make an offer on land here
Flood map
Look up the parcel on FEMA's flood map.
Flood zones are common here. Building in one means flood insurance and extra permits.
Well cost
Get a driller's quote.
Wells here run near 540 feet, so the well is a large cost.
Soil test
Get a soil test before you count on septic.
The soil stays wet, which can rule out a standard system.
Nearby counties
65,731 people live in Georgetown County, about 80.8 per square mile. It ranks 45th of the 46 South Carolina counties we scored, and South Carolina ranks 10th of 50 states.