Off-grid living, state by state.
Practical guidance for building an independent home. Plan water, wastewater and power together, compare contractor scopes and work through the approvals for your state.
Sonoran Desert National Monument, Arizona. Photograph: Bob Wick / BLM
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Build & installation
From system design to a home that works
Coordinate the site, assign the work between contractors, schedule inspections and agree how water, wastewater and power will be tested before handover.
Plan the buildMore from the guides
Practical guidesWater
Where will the next tank of water come from?
Compare wells, rainwater, hauled water and shared supplies. Work through demand, usable storage and the dry periods an annual rainfall total can hide.
Solar
Work out what your solar system needs to supply
A worked electricity inventory explains daily energy, simultaneous demand, battery capacity and what to ask a standalone-system designer.
Costs
Build a budget that reaches beyond the purchase
Compare complete quotes, identify missing site work and account for maintenance and replacement. Includes a blank project-budget worksheet.
Buying land
A promising listing is the start of the investigation
Turn claims about access, water and buildability into a property file. Learn what to request, which investigations belong together and when to stop.
Texas
What “unrestricted land” leaves out
City limits, county authority, groundwater districts and deed restrictions can all affect the same property. Start by finding out who has a say.
Utilities
Solar panels are only part of the plan
Electricity, water and sewer have separate approval paths. Work through connection requirements, independent systems and ongoing charges.
Colorado
Water comes before the mountain cabin
Read the well-permit, wastewater and building questions alongside the practical realities of year-round access.
Take a working plan to your contractors
Track each task, its prerequisites, the person responsible and the evidence needed to finish it. Use the handover worksheet to collect tests, manuals, settings and service contacts.
Get the build worksheets