Off-grid living is becoming more and more popular as people become more and more interested in sustainable living practices. But before you decide to take the plunge into off-grid living, you need to find the best state for off-grid living for your circumstance. Each state has its own benefits and drawbacks when it comes to off-grid living, so you need to consider all of the factors involved before making a decision. In this blog post, we will discuss the considerations you need to make when deciding if off-grid living is right for you, as well as the ten best states for off-grid living!
Why You Need to Find the Best State for Off-Grid Living
At first, you may consider off-grid living in your own state, and this is certainly doable. However, many states may be better suited for off-grid living depending on your specific needs. For example, if you are interested in cost-effective off-grid living, you may want to consider a state like Oregon that has ample renewable resources and a mild climate. If you are looking for states with more lenient building and zoning regulations, you may want to consider Arizona or New Mexico.
Considerations for Off-Grid Living
There are many factors to consider when choosing the best state for off-grid living, including cost, water rights, building and zoning regulations, agricultural land and growing seasons, and renewable resources. Let’s take a closer look at each of these considerations:
Cost
One of the most important factors to consider when choosing a state for off-grid living is the cost of living. Some states, like Oregon and Montana, have relatively high costs of living, while other states, like Alabama and New Mexico, have lower costs of living. It’s important to factor in all of the associated costs with off-grid living, including housing costs, food costs, and energy costs.
When choosing the off-the-grid lifestyle, it’s important to understand the land price of where you will put your off grid homestead. Rural areas are normally cheaper than urban centers. Land prices in states such as Oregon and Hawaii can also be quite expensive, so you’ll need to factor that into your decision as well. Low cost land can be had at a bargain, but there are usually tradeoffs. You can often get desert land at a very low cost because of the challenges associated with it.
Another consideration is property tax. Some states, like Colorado and Utah, have very low property taxes, while other states, like Tennessee and Missouri, have higher property taxes.
Water Rights
Another important consideration is water rights. Some states, like Oregon and Colorado, have very strict water rights regulations, while other states, like Alabama and New Mexico, are much more lenient. It’s important to research the water rights laws in each state before making a decision. Water rights are especially important in Western states where water is a precious resource. Wells and surface water rights can vary greatly from state to state. Even simple things such as using a cistern to collect rainwater may be regulated. While you think it may be perfectly legal, there is such a thing as rainwater collection laws.
Building and Zoning Regulations
Building and zoning regulations vary from state to state, so it’s important to research the building codes in each state and before deciding to go off-grid. Some states have very strict building codes that must be followed, while other states are much more lenient. It’s also important to research what kind of structures are allowed in each state. States with stricter zoning regulations include Oregon and Colorado, while states with more lenient regulations include Arizona and New Mexico.
Agricultural Land and Growing Seasons
If you’re interested in growing your own food, it’s important to consider the agricultural land and growing seasons in each state. Some states, like Hawaii and New Mexico, have long growing seasons, while other states, like Montana and Colorado, have shorter growing seasons. Colorado has less agricultural land than other states, so if you’re interested in growing your own food, you may want to consider a state like Montana.
Rural land is not necessarily cheap land. If you find affordable land, especially in normally expensive areas, such as the East Coast states, you may have to research why the land is a great deal. Maybe zoning laws preclude you from building even a cabin or tiny house there. Or maybe the area is prone to natural disasters such as wildfires, droughts, floods, or hurricanes. Or maybe the soil isn’t right for growing food. Do your research!
Renewable Resources
Finally, it’s important to consider the renewable resources available in each state. Some states, like Oregon and Washington, have an abundance of natural resources, while other states, like Alabama and New Mexico, have fewer renewable resources. It’s important to research the natural resources available in each state before making a decision. Some states are naturally sunny such as Arizona which makes them great for solar power, while others such as Oregon are terrific for wind power.
When living off grid, it’s important to use renewable energy. Unless you really intend to rough it living off the grid, you’ll want to generate your own electricity. Choosing a state that has abundant renewable resources is the best way to do this. You can generate your own power with off-grid homestead sized wind turbines or solar panels.
Off Grid Community Considerations
Even though you may be looking for a place with a low population density, chances are you’ll be looking for an off grid community that has like-minded people as yourself. When considering whether to live off grid in a particular area, be sure to check out the off grid residents in the area. Are they friendly and helpful? Or are they reclusive and unfriendly?
The Ten Best States for Off-Grid Living
Now that we’ve discussed the considerations you need to make when choosing a state for off-grid living, let’s take a look at the ten best states for off-grid living.
Oregon
Oregon is a great state for off-grid living because of its ample renewable resources and mild climate. The state has a long growing season and is home to many of America’s best wineries! The best place to look for off-grid land is in the southern part of the state in or near the Cascade Mountains. Oregon can have a high population density in some areas, so be sure to do your research before buying land.
Arizona
Arizona is another great state for off-grid living. Arizona is a great state for off-grid living because of its lenient building and zoning regulations, ample agricultural land, and long growing season. The state has a sunny climate, making it ideal for solar power, and it also has a long growing season. The best place to look for off-grid land in Arizona is in the northern part of the state near the Grand Canyon. The land prices there are still relatively affordable. Desert land is also available, but it’s important to make sure you have a reliable water source.
Missouri
Missouri is a great state for off-grid living because it has an abundance of agricultural land, its low cost of living, ample renewable resources, mild climate, and wind resources. The best place to look for off-grid land in Missouri is in the eastern part of the state near the Mississippi River.
Tennessee
Tennessee is a great state for off-grid living because it has a long growing season, ample agricultural land, and its low cost of living. It has ample renewable resources, lenient building and zoning regulations, and mild climate. The best place to look for off-grid land in Tennessee is in the eastern part of the state in the Appalachian Mountains.
Colorado
Colorado is a great state for off-grid living because of its ample renewable resources, many sunny days, and its wind resources. The best place to look for off-grid land in Colorado is in the western part of the state in the Rocky Mountains. The land prices in Colorado are still relatively affordable in Gunnison, Delta, and Montezuma counties.
Montana
Montana is a great state for off-grid living because of its ample renewable resources, lenient building and zoning regulations, and its lenient water rights regulations. It has a short growing season, but it’s a great state for raising livestock. The best place to look for off-grid land in Montana is in the western part of the state in the Rocky Mountains. Land prices in Montana are still relatively affordable for off the grid living.
Hawaii
Hawaii is a great state for off-grid living because of its ample renewable resources, long growing season, and lush agricultural land. Land in Hawaii can be very expensive, so you’ll need to save money ahead of time if you want to purchase land there. The best place to look for off-grid land in Hawaii is on the Big Island.
Alabama
Alabama is a great state for off-grid living because it has a mild climate, ample agricultural land, and a low cost of living. It also has lenient building and zoning regulations. The best place to look for off-grid land in Alabama is in the southern part of the state near the Gulf of Mexico. Land prices in Alabama are still relatively affordable, with the best grid land deals in Baldwin and Mobile counties.
New Mexico
New Mexico is a great state for living off grid because of its ample renewable resources, lenient building and zoning regulations, and its long growing season. The best place to look for off-grid land in New Mexico is in the western part of the state in the Rocky Mountains. You can find the best land for the off grid lifestyle in Taos, Rio Arriba, and San Miguel counties.
Utah
Utah is a great state for living off grid because it has ample renewable resources, lenient building and zoning regulations, and its low cost of living. The best place to look for off-grid land in Utah is in the eastern part of the state near the Colorado River. The best counties to live off grid are Garfield, Iron, and Kane counties. You can also find rural areas and desert land that are relatively cheap in Beaver, Washington, and San Juan counties.
These are just a few of the best states for off-grid living. Each state has its own unique benefits that make it ideal for those looking to live off the grid. When considering a state for off-grid living, be sure to consider your own needs and circumstances to find the best fit for you.
Choosing the right state to live off the grid can be difficult, but if you take into account the considerations we’ve discussed in this article, you’re sure to find the perfect state for your needs. Thanks for reading!
This article is full of contradictions when comparing the “considerations” portion to the “recommendations”.
Nevada is overlooked in so many ways, rugged mountains high desert prairies, and very low population density, in outlying areas very lenient building restrictions if any. I have lived in states across the U.S. now have lived in Nevada for 13 years, the lowest property taxes in the country, outside of Vegas.
Nevada, is my number one choice, northern central area that is. This area has been overlooked by the “experts” for so long and cannot understand why it has low population density, low taxes, high plains mountains regions, no nearby nuclear plants, very seasonal weather and moderate political structure. Yes there are som cons but my belief they are negligible compared to areas/states east of the Mississippi.