Bolthole Index

Arkansas · Off-grid & homestead potential

Lee County

68Index Score / 100
#48 of 75 in Arkansas

Lee County scores 68/100 on the Bolthole Index, a strong county profile. Its strengths are manageable long-term carry cost and low administrative friction for a quiet rural property.

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Lee County in Arkansas

68
County map
Lee County highlighted among the Arkansas counties · colored by Index score

How Lee County scores

Seclusion55100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency50100% ev.
Admin Boringness8090% ev.
Durability52100% ev.
Property Autonomy47100% ev.
Carry Cost8596% ev.

Evidence strength: 98%. This reports direct-source completeness and fallback use; it is separate from the score and is not a confidence interval. How it works →

$96kTypical home
0.5%Property tax
$3,431Land / acre
52.2"Annual rain
8.1% of yrsSevere drought
20.1 / yr (+17.7)Mid-century 100°F days
17.2 daysMid-century dry spell
2.37" (+8.5%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.55×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
$1,812Home insurance / yr
1.2% / yrInsurance growth
0.68%Nonrenewal rate
single ZIP shrunk to state medianInsurance basis
14,898People within 30 min
2,349,526People within 2 hr
19,710Radius comparison (15 mi)
13.7People / sq mi
7.8%Federal land
97%Land at 15% slope or less
2.2%Septic soil without severe limits
8,076 acWorkable land screen
25.3%Wooded land
63.5 tonsBiomass / forest ac
62.3°FAvg temp

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Property hunt

Find land. Bring the promising ones back.

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Building & land-use rules in Lee County

What it takes to build here — permits, zoning, and septic — scouted from Lee County’s own official sources.

  • Building permitNot required

    Rural/unincorporated Lee County has no county building department or building inspector listed; Arkansas rural counties generally do not require county building permits outside city limits. State overlay (AR): the Arkansas Fire Prevention Code (incl. the Arkansas Residential Code) applies statewide as a compliance standard even where no local permit program exists (Ark. Code Ann. 12-13-105); counties CAN adopt permit programs (14-14-801) — most simply have not.

    Arkansas.gov - Lee County
  • County zoningNone county-wide

    No county planning or zoning office is listed for Lee County; land-use regulation is handled by incorporated cities such as Marianna, not the county.

    Arkansas.gov - Lee County
  • Septic permittingArkansas Department of Health, Onsite Wastewater Section

    Onsite wastewater (septic) systems are permitted and regulated statewide by the Arkansas Department of Health, requiring a licensed Designated Representative for design.

    Arkansas Department of Health - Onsite Wastewater
  • Owner-builderNot published

    Not published on an official source — confirm with the county.

  • Building inspectionsNot published

    Not published on an official source — confirm with the county.

  • Occupancy certificateNot published

    Not published on an official source — confirm with the county.

  • Septic permitLimited

    Arkansas Department of Health routes onsite-wastewater permits through the county health unit, with a statutory 10-acre/200-foot exemption; Lee County-specific override was not established.

    Arkansas Department of Health - Onsite Wastewater
  • Septic inspectionNot published

    Not published on an official source — confirm with the county.

  • Off-grid sanitationNot published

    Not published on an official source — confirm with the county.

Always confirm current rules with Arkansas Department of Health - Onsite Wastewater / Lee County before you buy or build. Scouted Jul 2026 from official county sources.

Living off-grid in Lee County, Arkansas

Is Lee County a good place to live off-grid or homestead?

Lee County scores 68/100 on the Bolthole Index, a strong county profile. Its strengths: manageable long-term carry cost and low administrative friction for a quiet rural property.

Do you need a building permit in Lee County, Arkansas?

Lee County does not require a county building permit for a home in unincorporated areas, and it has no county-wide zoning. Onsite septic is permitted by Arkansas Department of Health, Onsite Wastewater Section. Rules change and cities within the county differ — always confirm with the county before you buy or build.

How much does land cost in Lee County, Arkansas?

Land in Lee County runs about $3,431 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in Lee County?

Lee County gets about 52.2" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 8.1% of years.

How remote is Lee County?

A representative private-land location has about 14,898 people within a 30-minute drive and 2,349,526 within two hours. The road-network catchments count population across county lines and clusters of smaller cities; straight-line radius values remain available as a comparison.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Lee County means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

WaterCrystal QuestFilter any source — well, rain, or creek — to drinking-clean.PowerBluettiSolar generators and home battery backup for living off the grid.

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How Lee compares in Arkansas

Compare side-by-side →See all 75 Arkansas counties ranked →