Can you live off-grid in Snohomish County, Washington?
77
of 100
Significant challenges
Possible, but winter sun will be hard. Solar is weaker here, about 3.5 hours of full sun a day, so plan a bigger battery bank or a generator. Water is easy here, with about 55 inches of rain a year and wells near 90 feet. The growing season runs about 210 frost-free days.
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
Shallow wells, so drilling should be one of the cheaper costs.
The typical well here is about 90 feet deep; a well typically runs $6,000 to $13,000
Growing season
A full season for most vegetables.
About 210 frost-free days, USDA zone 8a; last frost about April 5, first about November 3
Sun
Weak sun. Solar needs a generator behind it in winter.
About 3.5 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 to Low 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
Rolling ground. Look for a flat house site.
Slopes average about 13%, about 320 feet above sea level
Soil
Good ground for a standard septic system. The county's soil test decides.
Loam, moderately 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 0.6 miles (OpenStreetMap)
Check a Washington 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
Snohomish County zones land outside its towns and publishes its zoning map. Our free lookup shows the district for any address.
Building code
Washington's State Building Code, which includes the International Residential Code for homes, is in effect in every county and city. Counties and cities enforce it, so a new house needs a building permit and inspections anywhere in the state, and a local change to the rules for homes needs State Building Code Council approval.
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
$5,000 to $10,000
Standard system
Solar and batteries
$17,000 to $31,000
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
$32,000 to $67,000
Before the house
Before you make an offer on land here
Zoning
Look up the parcel's zoning district with our free tool.
The county publishes its zoning map.
Soil test
Get a soil test before you count on septic.
The county has to approve the ground before it issues a septic permit.
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
844,761 people live in Snohomish County, about 404.9 per square mile. It ranks tied for 3rd of the 39 Washington counties we scored, and Washington ranks 44th of 50 states.