Although there are many people living off the grid in Arizona, it is not an ideal location for off-grid life. Living off the grid has two major drawbacks: a shortage of freshwater and the local climate. If you’re familiar with dry to semi-arid conditions, you’re already aware of the difficulties they provide, particularly if you wish to grow your own food and live off the grid.
The ideal spots to live off the grid in Arizona are those where there is no shortage of freshwater. Graham County, Maricopa County, Pima County, Greenlee County, Gila County, and Coconino County are generally thought to be the best counties for off-grid living and homesteading.
Freshwater will be the most difficult aspect of living off the grid in this state. Arizona has been experiencing a drought for the past few years, which can be troublesome because most people draw their water from the Colorado River. Due to climate change and rising demand from the local population, the Colorado River has begun to decrease. Don’t get me wrong, there are still a few decent off-grid living options in this state.
The good news is that you won’t have to worry about how you’ll generate power for the most part, and property prices in some locations are so low that you’ll be getting a deal of a lifetime. If you’re interested in learning more about off-grid living in Arizona, read my recent essay Off-Grid Living in Arizona ( The Grand Canyon State ).
In Arizona, is it legal to live off the grid?
In Arizona, living off the grid is technically legal.
Some off-grid solutions are even encouraged by state regulations. Off-grid living, on the other hand, is strictly regulated. Almost everything you wish to install or create on your land will require a permit. Furthermore, some municipal rules may make living fully off the grid illegal.
ArizonaZoning Laws and Off-Grid Living
Local zoning rules ultimately determine whether it is permissible to live off-grid in any state.
Outside of urban areas, Arizona’s zoning restrictions are generally liberal, so going off the grid shouldn’t be a problem.
However, you may not be able to go fully off the grid in urban places due to fire codes that require you to have running water at a specific pressure.
If the municipal sewage system is located near your property, some cities may force you to connect to it.
Is there any undeveloped property in Arizona?
When most people think of homesteading in America, they think of the 18th-century statute that offered free land from the government as long as a family lived and worked on it. In Arizona, there is currently no homestead statute in place that permits for free land.
If you know where to look, there are still opportunities to find free land in the United States.
Is it still possible to homestead land in Arizona?
For years, Arizona homeowners have been able to rest easy knowing that no matter how long their list of creditors grew or how much debt they accumulated, a portion of their home’s value was safe from legal action. The current Arizona homestead protection law allows homeowners to protect up to $150,000.00 in equity from creditors. Effective January 1, 2022, the Arizona legislature has decided to raise the homestead exemption from $150,000.00 to $250,000.00. On the surface, it looks like Arizona homeowners are being offered extra protections against liens on their properties, and the timing could not be better, with homeowners experiencing parabolic increases in the value of their homes, as well as the resulting growth in equity. However, a closer examination of the law demonstrates that the contrary may be true.
“Any person the age of eighteen or over, married or single, who resides within the state may hold as a homestead exempt from attachment, execution, and forced sale, not exceeding one hundred fifty thousand dollars in value, any one of the following: (1) the person’s interest in real property in one compact body upon which exists a dwelling house in which the person resides; (2) the person’s interest in real property in one compact body upon which exists a dwelling house in which the person resides; (3) the person
A.R.S.33-964, which specifies that “judgment shall form a lien on all real property of the judgment debtor for a period of ten years from the date it is issued, except real property exempt from execution, including homestead property, for a period of ten years from the date it is given” (emphasis added). When read together, Arizona law ruled that a judgment did not attach as a lien on an Arizonan’s primary residence, regardless of the amount of equity in the home, and debtors were free to sell their homestead property without satisfying any judgment lien. 246 Ariz. 108, 434 P.3d 1187; Pacific Western Bank v. Mark Wallace Castleton, 246 Ariz. 108, 434 P.3d 1187; Pacific Western Bank v. Mark Wallace Castleton, 246 Ariz. 108 (App. 2018).
That protection, however, has been lost as a result of HB2617, a recent change to the Homestead Act. Civil judgements will attach automatically to any real property possessed by debtors, including a family’s homestead, under the measure, and will apply retrospectively to “all judgments regardless of when the judgment was recorded.” In other words, any judgment made against a homeowner in the past or future for whatever amount or form of debt will be an encumbrance on real property. Beginning January 1, 2022, all creditors will be entitled to attach debtors’ primary residences, and those judgements must be paid before clear title can be transferred to a buyer or a refinancing of the property, and before the owner may earn any of the proceeds.
For example, a seller with a $800,000 home may owe $400,000 on their existing mortgage or loan note, leaving the homeowner with $400,000 in equity. The debtor might sell the property and maintain all of their equity under the current Arizona homestead exemption. The debt will attach to the home’s equity under HB2617 if a creditor obtains a judgment against a homeowner and properly reports the judgment with the county recorder where the property is located. If the homeowner has many judgments or a big money judgment against them, the $400,000 in equity is available to all creditors (both the mortgage lender and any other creditors with judgments), subject to the higher homestead exemption of $250,000. The seller’s creditors must be paid before the title firm can conclude the deal.
HB2617 should be noted by both buyers and sellers, since it will certainly effect many real estate transactions early next year and beyond. Closings may be delayed (or obstructed) while a seller’s creditors are paid from the sale profits, or sellers may be uninformed of certain judgments against their properties and need to file for bankruptcy to deal with them. Unknown judgements, which might range from unpaid credit card debt to commercial loans that were personally guaranteed by the homeowner, can cause refinancing to be denied or delayed.
By purchasing a title report from a reliable title company, Arizona homeowners can find out if they have any outstanding money judgements that could damage their home value or sale proceeds. A title report will detail all of the liens and encumbrances that have been placed on the homeowner’s property.
In Arizona, is it possible to live in an RV on your own land?
It is allowed to live in an RV in Arizona as long as you follow the laws and regulations of the city in which you are residing. It’s crucial to note that certain Arizona campgrounds rent out full-time RV spots, and in other cases, you can even park on your own property. For more information, see the table below.
How to live legally in an RV in the US
It is apparent that living in an RV is a viable option. Is it, however, permissible to do so? We’ll look at the two main options that are available.
Is Arizona a good place to start a homestead?
Arizona has a lot of promise for people who want to start homesteading. Despite the fact that the cost of purchasing farmland in Arizona is higher than the national average of $3,080, land in this southern state is still very inexpensive. With a difficult climate and a plethora of rules and regulations to be mindful of, potential Arizona farmers should speak with the relevant local boards and authorities to verify they are meeting all legal requirements.
What is the best way to get started homesteading in Arizona?
Get a copy of the Homestead Declaration Form. Request a Homestead Declaration Form from the county clerk’s office or the tax collector’s office in the Arizona county where the property is located (see resources for a printable general Homestead Declaration Form).
Is it legal to live in a tiny house in Arizona?
Tiny houses that have been approved as a travel vehicle by the state are non-permanent dwellings that are allowed to be used in the same way that recreational vehicles are. These are under the control of the Arizona Department of Transportation. Tiny dwellings must be constructed and inspected in conformity with Coconino County’s adopted building code and ordinance.
Is it legal to live in a shipping container home in Arizona?
The state inspects shipping container homes since they qualify as modular homes, but towns and counties can determine whether to allow or prohibit them under their zoning rules. They are permitted in residential zones within the city borders of Tucson, but not in unincorporated Pima County.
How will I be able to live off the grid if I don’t have any money?
If you’re anything like me, the biggest roadblock to living off the grid is a lack of funds. Today, I thought I’d help out aspiring homesteaders by compiling a list of recommendations for living off the grid on a budget, some of which you may not have seen before.
How to live off the grid on a shoestring budget:
- Get yourself a free or low-cost piece of land (4 methods below)
- Construct a free house
- Gather and cultivate foods that are abundant in nature.
- There are no wells to dig, therefore purify the available water.
- Set up a dirt-cheap (or even free) waste disposal system.
- Find a free living community as a bonus.
Despite what advertisements, builders, and real estate salespeople would have you believe, there are numerous low-cost methods to go off the grid. It all comes down to how much effort you’re willing to put in and your ability to think creatively.
Is it less expensive to live off the grid?
Overall, living off-grid is a less expensive way to live once you have everything set up. Renewable energy is less expensive, eating off the land is less expensive (but requires more maintenance), and living in a less opulent home can also save you money.