Living off grid is not illegal in any of the 50 states – at least not technically. There are many simple off the grid living activities you can do anywhere, but some of the most essential infrastructure aspects of disconnecting from modern society are either strictly regulated or outright banned.
You can grow your own food using off grid water delivery methods in all states throughout America. It is not illegal to operate a residential off the grid greenhouse. You can light, heat, and cool your livestock barn using off grid measures. It is when folks want to remove their homes from the electrical grid entirely and even put composting commodes in their bathrooms, that steep fines (or even jail time) can be levied in some states.
Off grid living laws not only vary by state, but often vary greatly in municipalities and counties, as well.
Most often the biggest hurdle to overcome when planning on off the grid home in any location, is putting in a septic system that will pass health department rules – even in rural areas.
Off Grid Living Variations Within States
The off grid state laws in the following section pertain to the entire state in general. Small to large variations in each off grid living category could very well be present depending on local laws that place restrictions surpassing the ones imposed by the state.
- Urban areas almost always have the most stringent restrictions in regards to off grid living.
- Affluent suburban areas, especially those with homeowners associations, also often boast prohibitive off grid living regulations.
- Even some small towns have now placed regulations on common off grid activities, especially when it comes to disconnecting from the power grid and sanitary sewer systems.
- Life can always be lived the most free out in the country. Laws in unincorporated areas in counties tend to be the most advantageous to off grid living fans. Many rural counties throughout the country do not have any zoning laws at all, outside of health department septic installation rules.
Rainwater Collection Codes
It is legal in all or most areas of all 50 states for residents to collect rainwater on private property.
Because it is legal to collect rainwater, that does not mean setting up a rainwater barrel collection system is also legal. Such systems could violate either state or local ordinances (or both) and might require the purchase of a permit.
Rainwater collection laws in some states are simple, while others have a myriad of exclusions.
Composting Toilet Codes
Many states do not reference composting codes in their state statutes at all. But, stringent rules regarding the disposal of raw sewage do exist in all 50 states. Typically, the lengthy guidelines governing sewage and septic systems can be found by visiting the state, county, or municipality website.
Some state guidelines may address the use of a composting toilet in new builds, but not in existing homes. Simply because a composting commode might be legal does not mean that an off the grid septic system, will be as well. United States building codes require in nearly every living situation, that a flush toilet that is connected to a government approved septic or sewer system, must exist.
ReCode, Portland, Oregon activist group, is working diligently to legalize sustainable sanitation systems across the United States. They has met with composting commode experts throughout the United States to help draft a composting toilet code for IAPMO (Universal Plumbing Code writers) to review. Many states in the West has now adopted the code which is included in the 2017 Water Efficiency Standard.
States which have addressed the composting code in any way, including those with pending legislative proposals, will be noted individually below.
Solar Energy
It is legal to install solar panels (sometimes with a permit) on your home and not use conventional power in all 50 states. But, not every state allows residents to install solar panels or to disconnect from the power grid entirely.
Nevada is just one of the states that requires a fixed fee for using solar energy to power your home – beyond the permit process many states require. Selling excess energy back to a conventional utility company is growing commonplace, but the amount received for supplying the energy also varies by both state and utility company provider.
You may have to remain connected to the power grid and pay a minimum connection fee even if you refuse to use the service. In some states or municipalities. Lenders and insurance providers may require such a connection, even if the state does not.
Power grid disconnection regulations vary so drastically by municipality, it is impossible to cover them all next to each listing below.
Most urban and many suburban municipalities boast the most stringent laws regarding electrical utility connection. Rural residents are far more likely to be able to build off grid in every state. Rural counties often do not have building codes, permit offices, or zoning laws outside of health department sewage regulations.
The best way to determine if complete or partial with a fee disconnection for the power grid is feasible in a specific area is to find out if the International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC) has been adopted by the municipality – and review both the state and local Uniform Building Code.
Basically, if a city, town, county, township, or village does not want residents or business owners to be able to disconnect from the power grid, they can simply pass a law preventing such action.
Unplugging From The Grid And Making Your Own Energy
Although rules and permits vary by state, you can actually unplug from the grid and make your own energy. In fact, some folks are making a little bit of extra money selling energy back to the electrical power companies.
Even businesses small and large are starting to unplug from the grid and make their own energy. A Kroger food distribution center in California installed a system that allows them to convert bacteria created by out of date or damaged bread and other organic material into biogas that is then burned to generate around 20 percent of the energy used on-site.
A detailed report by Home Power magazine revealed that more than 180,000 homes in the United States supply their own power entirely. Approximately one million homes have solar panels installed and allowed the family to at least partially rely on energy they produce themselves.
Another 27,000 homes use either wind or solar energy (or both) to go partially off grid, reducing their energy bills in the process. Because solar panels have decreased in price by roughly 50 percent since 2008, more Americans can afford to have them installed and provide more of their own energy.
What appears to be a growing number of states actually offer either tax breaks or income tax rebates to residents that purchase clean energy systems for their home. In 35 states with net metering laws it is both legal and possible to sell generated energy back to utility companies at retail rates.
The most popular ways Americans are unplugging themselves from the power grid to varying degrees are by the use of solar power, wind turbines, and hydropower.
The most difficult aspect of removing yourself from all modern utilities occurs when putting in a septic system.
Perhaps in the near future more states will allow the use of composting toilets and the cost of no-mess and surprisingly attractive units, will decrease as solar panels have.
Off Grid Living Legal Obstacles
Many state and local laws inhibit not just living off the grid projects but traditional homesteading activities in general. Fifty years ago it was far easier to live off the grid and make a living from your land than it is today.
Even if your state is quite off grid living friendly from a rainwater collection, solar panel, or even composting toilet standpoint,engaging in the following seemingly simple and common sense self-reliant living activities could cause you to wind up with a huge fine….or jail time.
#1. Selling raw milk from your off the grid homestead will get you arrested in most states. Some states permit the sale of “herd shares” where the co-owners of a dairy cow or dairy goat can garner a predetermined amount of milk in return for an investment in the animal.
#2. You better plan on building a permanent dwelling on your off the grid survival retreat. Pitching a tent or parking a motorhome long term (or eve short term in some states) can result in fines or an eviction from your own property.
#3. How small or large you build your off the grid home also matters. A minimum square footage ordinance in some municipalities could thwart any plans you have for economical tiny house off the grid living.
#4. Even if your off the grid home meets the minimum square footage requirements and is a permanent dwelling, it still might be deemed illegal. Before buying a used mobile home or manufactured home of any type and moving it onto your land, review local laws to make sure it also meets a minimum age requirements.
Saving money on a dwelling in order to invest the funds into an alternative energy system is only a great idea if the house being turned into an off grid home meets every last one of the town or county’s existing ordinances.
#5. Read the deed closely – go over it with the proverbial fine toothed comb, before buying what seems like a dream off grid property at a great price. Even in rural areas deed restrictions against keeping specific types of livestock or the number of livestock, can exist.
If you live in a “Right to Farm” state such instances are more rare, but such an ag-friendly designation does not necessarily exempt you from the long and heavy reach of government officials.
#6. If you are attempting to go off grid or even partially off the grid in a suburban area, engaging in typical self-reliance style living will likely be an ongoing hurdle.
If your disconnected property is subject to homeowners association rules, expect not to be able to use a clothesline to conserve energy when drying your clothes, connecting rainwater collection barrels to the side of your house, or perhaps even putting up what could be deemed “unsightly” solar panels on the roof of the home your already own.
The ability to grow your own groceries could also be vastly limited and specific types of containers or plots for their cultivation, mandated.
#7. How the processed waste from a composting toilet is used or disposed of may also pose a problem for off gridders. Using “humanure” to help a garden grow is still considered taboo in many communities or states.
Make certain to review not just the type of composting commodes allowed by your local health department when completing any permits or inspections (both will likely be required more than once) but also how the processed waste may or may not be used.
