Bolthole Index

South Dakota · Off-grid & homestead potential

Davison County

49Index Score / 100
#20 of 66 in South Dakota

Davison County scores 49/100 on the Bolthole Index, a solid county profile. Its strengths are manageable long-term carry cost and a stronger property-autonomy legal backdrop. The trade-offs: workable self-sufficiency basics (25.1″/yr rainfall).

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County locator

Davison County in South Dakota

49
County map
Davison County highlighted among the South Dakota counties · colored by Index score

How Davison County scores

Seclusion59100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency2398% ev.
Admin Boringness4490% ev.
Durability51100% ev.
Property Autonomy67100% ev.
Carry Cost79100% 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 →

$258kTypical home
1.2%Property tax
$4,642Land / acre
25.1"Annual rain
12.7% of yrsSevere drought
12.3 / yr (+9.8)Mid-century 100°F days
21.8 daysMid-century dry spell
1.39" (+6.7%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.55×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
$1,671Home insurance / yr
4.5% / yrInsurance growth
0%Nonrenewal rate
county median (2+ published ZIPs)Insurance basis
23,739People within 30 min
546,734People within 2 hr
22,275Radius comparison (15 mi)
45.7People / sq mi
3.4%Federal land
97.4%Land at 15% slope or less
1.1%Septic soil without severe limits
3,126 acWorkable land screen
1.9%Wooded land
21.4 tonsBiomass / forest ac
46.9°FAvg temp

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Property hunt

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A planning estimate, not a valuation or contractor quote. The USDA benchmark includes farm land and buildings; it is context, not a parcel comp.

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Building & land-use rules in Davison County

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

  • Building permitRequired

    County Planning and Zoning states any permanent structure requires a Building Permit Application prior to construction, issued by the P&Z Office.

    Davison County Planning and Zoning ↗
  • County zoningYes

    County adopted a Zoning Ordinance (permanent 1998, most recently amended effective July 2021) defining districts and permitted uses.

    Davison County Planning and Zoning ↗
  • Septic permittingSouth Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources (DANR)

    SD DANR sets statewide onsite wastewater rules (ARSD 74:53:01); permitting is administered locally under those state standards.

    South Dakota DANR 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 Davison County Planning and Zoning before you buy or build. Scouted Jul 2026 from official county sources.

Living off-grid in Davison County, South Dakota

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

Davison County scores 49/100 on the Bolthole Index, a solid county profile. Its strengths: manageable long-term carry cost and a stronger property-autonomy legal backdrop. Watch-outs: workable self-sufficiency basics (25.1″/yr rainfall).

Do you need a building permit in Davison County, South Dakota?

Davison County generally requires a residential building permit, and it enforces county zoning. Onsite septic is permitted by South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources (DANR). Rules change and cities within the county differ — always confirm with the county before you buy or build.

How much does land cost in Davison County, South Dakota?

Land in Davison County runs about $4,642 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in Davison County?

Davison County gets about 25.1" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 12.7% of years.

How remote is Davison County?

A representative private-land location has about 23,739 people within a 30-minute drive and 546,734 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 Davison 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 Davison compares in South Dakota

Compare side-by-side →See all 66 South Dakota counties ranked →