Can you live off-grid in Oglala Lakota County, South Dakota?
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Significant challenges
Possible, but water will be hard. Only about 19 inches of rain falls a year, so you will rely on a well (near 90 feet here) or hauled water. The growing season is only about 141 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 19 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 90 feet deep; a well typically runs $7,000 to $15,000
Growing season
Short. Start seeds indoors and favor cold-hardy crops.
About 141 frost-free days, USDA zone 5a; last frost about May 12, first about September 30
Sun
Good sun. Size the array and battery bank for winter.
About 5.3 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; about 0.6 strong (EF2 or stronger) tornadoes a decade within 25 miles
Terrain
Rolling ground. Look for a flat house site.
Slopes average about 8%, about 3,250 feet above sea level
Soil
Expect a costlier septic system, because rock or a hard layer sits about 31 inches down. The county's soil test decides.
Silty clay, 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 0.7 miles (OpenStreetMap)
Check a South Dakota 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
Rural land here is often unzoned. Confirm with the county before you build.
Building code
South Dakota has no statewide residential building code: a city that chooses to regulate houses must use the 2024 International Residential Code and may not be stricter, and the state's default building standard excludes homes and farmsteads. Whether a rural house needs a building permit depends on the county, so ask before you buy.
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.
Drilled to about 90 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
$8,000 to $20,000
From the nearest road to a house site
Clearing
$1,000 to $4,000
A house site, solar, and garden
Total
$44,000 to $93,000
Before the house
Before you make an offer on land here
Soil test
Get a soil test before you count on septic.
Rock or a hard layer sits about 31 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.
Zoning
Confirm with the county whether the parcel is zoned.
Rural land in South Dakota is often unzoned.
Nearby counties
13,434 people live in Oglala Lakota County, about 6.4 per square mile. It ranks tied for 46th of the 66 South Dakota counties we scored, and South Dakota ranks 39th of 50 states.