Best States / Wyoming / Fremont County

Fremont County, WY · off-grid fact sheet

Can you live off-grid in Fremont County, Wyoming?

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Significant challenges

Possible, but water will be hard. Only about 12 inches of rain falls a year, so you will rely on a well or hauled water. The sun is strong, about 5.6 hours of full sun a day, so a smaller solar array covers a household. The growing season is only about 114 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 12 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 30 feet to 360 feet
Growing season
Very short. A greenhouse makes the difference.
About 114 frost-free days, USDA zone 5a; last frost about May 15, first about October 1
Sun
Strong sun. A modest solar array covers a household.
About 5.6 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
Terrain
Rolling ground. Look for a flat house site.
Slopes average about 10%, about 6,060 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 1.4 miles (OpenStreetMap)

Check a Wyoming parcel, or plan the one you own

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Is it legal here?

Zoning
Rural land here is often unzoned. Confirm with the county before you build.
Building code
No mandatory statewide residential code. Counties and cities adopt codes locally or have none.
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.

Look up a parcel's zoning free, or read Is it legal to live off-grid in Wyoming? for permits, septic, wells, and the counties that opt out.

What it costs to set up a homestead here

Well
Not priced
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
$8,000 to $21,000
From the nearest road to a house site
Clearing
$1,000 to $4,000
A house site, solar, and garden
Total
$33,000 to $69,000
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 30 feet to 360 feet.
Zoning
Confirm with the county whether the parcel is zoned.
Rural land in Wyoming is often unzoned.
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

39,815 people live in Fremont County, about 4.3 per square mile. It ranks tied for 16th of the 23 Wyoming counties we scored, and Wyoming ranks 43rd of 50 states.

Hot Springs County, WY · Sublette County, WY · Washakie County, WY · Natrona County, WY · Sweetwater County, WY · Big Horn County, WY · All scored Wyoming counties

A good county is not a good parcel. Two lots a mile apart can score 80 and 35. Score the one you are looking at, free, in about a minute.

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Sources: FEMA flood maps, USGS and state driller well records, USGS brackish groundwater study, USDA soil survey, USGS 3DEP elevation, U.S. Forest Service wildfire hazard, USGS seismic hazard, USGS PAD-US public land, U.S. Census housing counts, USDA county land values, FCC broadband map, CMS hospital list. Rainfall: PRISM Group, Oregon State University, prism.oregonstate.edu (1991-2020 normals, 4 km grid; accessed 2026-09-17). Temperatures: PRISM Group, Oregon State University, prism.oregonstate.edu (1991-2020 temperature normals, 4 km grid; accessed 2026-09-26). Storms: NOAA hurricane tracks (HURDAT2, 1975-2025) and Storm Prediction Center tornado paths (EF2+, 1990-2025). Roads: © OpenStreetMap contributors. Data updated September 2026.