Yes, with one thing to plan around. Rain is plentiful, about 46 inches a year. The ground is steep, with slopes averaging about 34%. That raises the cost of a driveway, septic, and foundation.
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 46 inches a year (PRISM, 1991 to 2020 average)
Wells
Typical well depth. Budget for a mid-range well.
The typical well here is about 270 feet deep; a well typically runs $10,000 to $23,000
Growing season
A full season for most vegetables.
About 198 frost-free days, USDA zone 7a; last frost about April 9, first about October 26
Sun
Good sun. Size the array and battery bank for winter.
About 4.8 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
Low wildfire risk.
U.S. Forest Service wildfire hazard map: Very Low here
Storms
Hurricanes and strong tornadoes are rare here.
NOAA: no hurricane-strength storm within 50 miles since 1975; about 1 strong (EF2 or stronger) tornado a decade within 25 miles
Terrain
Steep. A flat house site and a driveway route will drive the cost.
Slopes average about 34%, about 1,270 feet above sea level
Road
Paved roads are close by.
Nearest paved road usually within about 0.1 miles (OpenStreetMap)
Check a Virginia 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 Roanoke city, so call the county planning office with the parcel number to ask whether the land is zoned.
Building code
Virginia's Uniform Statewide Building Code, which uses the International Residential Code for homes, applies in every county and city and replaces local building codes. The local building department enforces it, so a new house needs a building permit and inspections anywhere in the state.
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 270 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
$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 $87,000
Before the house
Before you make an offer on land here
Soil test
Get a soil test before you count on septic.
Steep ground can rule out a standard system.
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.
Road access
Confirm the parcel fronts a public road or has a recorded easement.
Without one, you may not have a legal way in.
Nearby counties
97,171 people live in Roanoke city, about 2285.2 per square mile. It ranks tied for 102nd of the 119 Virginia counties we scored, and Virginia ranks 1st of 50 states.