Best States / Wyoming / Weston County

Weston County, WY · off-grid fact sheet

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

75
of 100
Significant challenges

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 growing season is only about 127 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 90 feet to 1,070 feet
Growing season
Short. Start seeds indoors and favor cold-hardy crops.
About 127 frost-free days, USDA zone 5a; last frost about May 21, first about September 26
Sun
Good sun. Size the array and battery bank for winter.
About 5.4 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 Moderate 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
Flat to gentle, easy to build on.
Slopes average about 5%, about 4,320 feet above sea level
Soil
Expect a costlier septic system, because rock or a hard layer sits about 44 inches down. The county's soil test decides.
Loam, well drained (USDA soil survey). A mound, sand filter, or treatment unit typically runs $10,000 to $20,000
Road
Paved roads are close by.
Nearest paved road usually within about 0.9 miles (OpenStreetMap)

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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
$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 $8,000
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, 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 90 feet to 1,070 feet.
Soil test
Get a soil test before you count on septic.
Rock or a hard layer sits about 44 inches down, which can rule out a standard system.
Zoning
Confirm with the county whether the parcel is zoned.
Rural land in Wyoming is often unzoned.

Nearby counties

6,808 people live in Weston County, about 2.8 per square mile. It ranks tied for 5th of the 23 Wyoming counties we scored, and Wyoming ranks 43rd of 50 states.

Crook County, WY · Lawrence County, SD · Niobrara County, WY · Campbell County, WY · Custer County, SD · Fall River County, SD · All scored Wyoming counties

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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.