Today we’re going to address some common myths and concerns about living off grid in Utah.
Living off the grid in Utah is legal, but there are some things to consider before making the decision. There are no laws prohibiting you from living off the grid, but you may experience some regulations and restrictions when you are looking to harvest rainwater. Almost all of Utah is under severe drought and many of the water reservoirs there are dangerously low. This makes it extremely difficult, sometimes impossible, to get a water-use permit in many parts of the state. Some areas may require you to connect to the municipal sewer system as well, which would make it illegal to live completely off grid. This could make it impossible to go off grid legally in Utah.
Related: States With Laws (and What They Are) About Living Off The Grid
What Is The Cost of Living Off Grid in Utah?
The cost of living off grid in Utah is a little more expensive than the rest of the United States of America, but the property taxes and crime rates are both lower than the national average which you should take into account.
While we can’t give you an end-all-be-all answer to this, it can be relatively inexpensive to live off grid in Utah if you have enough land and can be self-sufficient. You can chop firewood from your property to burn to generate heat, you can use Solar Panels on your roof and on your property to generate energy and you can grow your own food.
Keep in mind that the beginning stages of going off grid in Utah are going to be the most expensive. The initial costs of solar panels, the building of a greenhouse, building your house and setting up the foundation of your new life will cost more than you are expecting. The good news is that once these things are set up, your monthly costs will drop because many of them are one-time expenses.
How to Get Water Rights in Utah
Before using any water in Utah – including water on your property – you must apply for a right to appropriate the water through the Utah State Engineer. The process involves filling out a form, providing details about how you intend to use the water, and paying fees. The next step is filing a public notification about your intent to appropriate water. If anyone files a protest, a public hearing will be held.
The Utah Division of Water Rights (DWRi) is an agency of Utah State Government within the Department of Natural Resources that administers the appropriation and distribution of the State’s valuable water resources. Click here to see how to get water rights in Utah.
Are There Off Grid Living Laws in Utah?
While there are no state-wide laws prohibiting you from living off grid and harvesting rainwater, there still may be some laws depending on different local authorities. In certain parts of Utah, the people may not be friendly to new residents, however in other spots you may find communities that are extremely welcoming. Prior to purchasing an off grid property in Utah it is a good idea to explore the area and if possible, meet the neighbors. Some of the neighbors may be able to advise you on the local laws and help you better understand the area.
If you move to a new area, if you can find some others who just moved to the area within the last year or two, they may be able to provide the most guidance because they were in your position most recently.
Are There Off Grid Communities in Utah?
Yes there are off grid communities in Utah. One of the communities that is currently growing is the Riverbed Ranch Homesteading Community.
Riverbed Ranch Homesteading Community is an Unincorporated town in Juab County, Utah, United States. The official planning of this community started in 2017 and people started living there during 2020. It is a community of 250 Farm-Steaders. Their goal was to create a self-reliance community where families can extract themselves from being dependent on the power grid, gas company, city water, and grocery stores in the city. It’s an agricultural cooperative that was created for the benefit of its members.
The Foundation for Intentional Community has a lot more information available at this link: Riverbed Ranch Homesteading Community.
You can also visit their official website at https://www.riverbed-ranch.com/
There are a few others that seem to be in the beginning stages, so if you are looking to get in early with a community you can search through the Foundation for Intentional Communities search for “Utah”. Here is the results for that, Off Grid Communities in Utah.
Related: Arizona Off-Grid Laws – Is Living Off-Grid in Arizona Legal?
What Is The State Income Tax For Utah?
Utah has a single tax rate for all income levels. As of January 1, 2018 Utah has a flat tax rate for all income of 4.95% or .0495.
You can learn all about state income tax rules for Utah here, https://incometax.utah.gov/
Are There Any Good Videos Showing Parts of Utah and Living Off Grid In Utah?
Good Tines Outdoors on YouTube looks like he’s going to have a good series showing the development of land in the mountains of Utah, although he hasn’t uploaded a new video since July of 2021.
This is a bit longer video about Utah Homesteading – The Pros and Cons of Homesteading in Utah. It’s from a person who moved from Southern California to Utah, so you’ll be able to get a little insight from someone who wasn’t born in Utah.
One thing that High Mountain Homestead mentioned is that they didn’t have enough of a harvest their first year to justify canning. He said he doesn’t know how to do it either, because he grew up in Southern California where they didn’t do it. If you want to live in Utah and want to learn canning techniques, check out our article here: Canning 101: How To Start Canning Food for Homesteading and Off Grid Living
Related: How to Store Canned Food Long-Term – The Complete Guide
How Can You Generate Power Off The Grid in Utah?
One thing to keep in mind when it comes to Utah is that that sun is almost always shining. According to Current Results weather and science facts, Utah gets around 255 days of sun each year. They report 151 days of sunny weather and 104 days of partly sunny weather. This means that solar power is a good option for generating power off the grid in Utah.
The tax credit for solar power in Utah is lower than it is in other states though. It’s around 25% but this is limited to a maximum cost of $2,000.
Wind Power is another option for generating power off grid in Utah. Depending on where you are located and how much land you have, wind power could be a possible option for generating power. Utah does give several incentives for those who choose to get wind power. View current Utah renewable energy incentives on the DSIRE website.
While it might be possible for you to generate Hydroelectric power, it will be an extremely difficult thing to do for consistent energy production. During the summertime the streams and rivers that you would have to use often shrink in the summertime, so you would have depleted power.
Overall, the best option in our opinion is to use solar power in Utah to generate energy off grid. . Click Here to Easily Make Electricity At Home with DIY Home Energy in Utah.
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