Possible, but hard and costly. Only about 14 inches of rain falls a year, so you will rely on a well (near 150 feet here) or hauled water. The sun is strong, about 5.7 hours of full sun a day, so a smaller solar array covers a household. The growing season is only about 124 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 14 inches a year (PRISM, 1991 to 2020 average)
Wells
Typical well depth. Budget for a mid-range well.
The typical well here is about 150 feet deep; a well typically runs $8,000 to $18,000
Growing season
Short. Start seeds indoors and favor cold-hardy crops.
About 124 frost-free days, USDA zone 6b; last frost about May 28, first about September 30
Sun
Strong sun. A modest solar array covers a household.
About 5.7 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
Earthquakes
Strong shaking is possible. Build to the seismic code and brace the water tank.
USGS seismic hazard map: high
Terrain
Flat to gentle, easy to build on.
Slopes average about 2%, about 5,180 feet above sea level
Soil
Good ground for a standard septic system. The county's soil test decides.
Loam, well 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 1 mile (OpenStreetMap)
Check a Utah 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 Juab County, so call the county planning office with the parcel number to ask whether the land is zoned.
Building code
Utah has a mandatory statewide building code: new homes must meet the 2021 International Residential Code with Utah's amendments, and no county can opt out. Your county or city building department issues the permit and does the inspections; the state does not.
Rainwater
Allowed with limits. Check the state's rules before you size a tank.
Composting toilets
Allowed with a permit and an approved unit.
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 150 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 $9,000
From the nearest road to a house site
Clearing
$1,000 to $4,000
A house site, solar, and garden
Total
$35,000 to $74,000
Before the house
Before you make an offer on land here
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
Call the county planning office with the parcel number.
There is no public zoning map, so we cannot tell whether the land is zoned.
Soil test
Get a soil test before you count on septic.
The county has to approve the ground before it issues a septic permit.
Nearby counties
13,023 people live in Juab County, about 3.8 per square mile. It ranks tied for 23rd of the 29 Utah counties we scored, and Utah ranks 47th of 50 states.