Bolthole Index

North Dakota · Off-grid & homestead potential

Eddy County

49Index Score / 100
#26 of 53 in North Dakota

Eddy County scores 49/100 on the Bolthole Index, a solid county profile. Its strengths are manageable long-term carry cost and deep seclusion — about 100 people within a 30-minute drive. The trade-offs: thin water margin (19.3″/yr rainfall).

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County locator

Eddy County in North Dakota

49
County map
Eddy County highlighted among the North Dakota counties · colored by Index score

How Eddy County scores

Seclusion79100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency21100% ev.
Admin Boringness4390% ev.
Durability46100% ev.
Property Autonomy73100% ev.
Carry Cost8194% 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 →

$122kTypical home
0.9%Property tax
$2,088Land / acre
19.3"Annual rain
9.1% of yrsSevere drought
2.8 / yr (+2.4)Mid-century 100°F days
19.1 daysMid-century dry spell
1.27" (+9.1%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.63×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
state median fallbackInsurance basis
100People within 30 min
101,858People within 2 hr
2,694Radius comparison (15 mi)
3.6People / sq mi
29.6%Federal land
96.2%Land at 15% slope or less
31.4%Septic soil without severe limits
124,668 acWorkable land screen
2.9%Wooded land
29.6 tonsBiomass / forest ac
40°FAvg temp

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Property hunt

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Building & land-use rules in Eddy County

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

  • Building permitRequired

    Eddy County publishes an official 'Eddy County Residential Building Permit' application and a Floodplain Development Permit, indicating building permits are required for construction in the unincorporated county.

    Eddy County - Document Library / Downloads ↗
  • County zoningYes

    Eddy County has adopted and repeatedly amended a county Zoning Ordinance and maintains a Zoning Commission with variance and conditional-use processes.

    Eddy County Zoning Ordinance ↗
  • Septic permittingNorth Dakota Department of Environmental Quality (with local public health unit permit)

    Per SB2267 (2025) the ND DEQ holds authority over onsite wastewater systems statewide, while a local public health permit is also required for installation.

    North Dakota DEQ - Septic Systems ↗
  • 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 permitNot published

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

  • 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 Eddy County Zoning Commission before you buy or build. Scouted Jul 2026 from official county sources.

Living off-grid in Eddy County, North Dakota

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

Eddy County scores 49/100 on the Bolthole Index, a solid county profile. Its strengths: manageable long-term carry cost and deep seclusion — about 100 people within a 30-minute drive. Watch-outs: thin water margin (19.3″/yr rainfall).

Do you need a building permit in Eddy County, North Dakota?

Eddy County generally requires a residential building permit, and it enforces county zoning. Onsite septic is permitted by North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality (with local public health unit permit). Rules change and cities within the county differ — always confirm with the county before you buy or build.

How much does land cost in Eddy County, North Dakota?

Land in Eddy County runs about $2,088 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in Eddy County?

Eddy County gets about 19.3" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 9.1% of years.

How remote is Eddy County?

A representative private-land location has about 100 people within a 30-minute drive and 101,858 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 Eddy 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 Eddy compares in North Dakota

Compare side-by-side →See all 53 North Dakota counties ranked →