Possible, but water will be hard. Only about 15 inches of rain falls a year, so you will rely on a well 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 119 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 15 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 50 feet to 410 feet
Growing season
Very short. A greenhouse makes the difference.
About 119 frost-free days, USDA zone 6a; last frost about June 3, first about September 28
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 places. Check the risk for the parcel you want.
U.S. Forest Service wildfire hazard map: Very Low to 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 6%, about 7,130 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
Dirt tracks. Plan to build or maintain your own road.
Nearest road often a dirt track, about 0.5 miles away (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
Sevier County zones land outside its towns and publishes its zoning map. Our free lookup shows the district for any address.
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.
Depends on depth, which varies here. Get a driller's quote.
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
$27,000 to $57,000
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 50 feet to 410 feet.
Road access
Confirm a recorded easement to the parcel.
The nearest roads are often dirt tracks.
Wildfire
Ask an insurance agent whether they will write a policy.
The U.S. Forest Service rates wildfire risk high in places.
Nearby counties
22,344 people live in Sevier County, about 11.7 per square mile. It ranks tied for 2nd of the 29 Utah counties we scored, and Utah ranks 47th of 50 states.