Navajo County, Arizona comes up often in conversations about affordable rural land, off-grid living, and homesteading. It has large rural areas, relatively inexpensive land in some locations, and an established population of people living outside the larger towns and utility systems.
At the same time, Navajo County is not a no-rules county. Building permits, zoning, wastewater, access, and inspections can all matter depending on the property and what you want to build.
This page is meant to give a practical overview of what people commonly say about Navajo County, along with some information from the county itself and a reminder to verify everything directly before buying land or beginning construction.
This short video gives a general overview of Navajo County, Arizona for people considering rural or off-grid living. It is not a guarantee that any particular property will work for your plans. Always verify the rules and requirements directly with Navajo County before buying land.
The General Reputation
Navajo County appears to be a realistic county to investigate for off-grid and rural living, especially for people who are comfortable working through a normal permitting process rather than looking for a place with no building oversight.
There are large rural areas throughout the county where people live with wells, hauled water, solar power, septic systems, manufactured homes, owner-built homes, and other rural systems.
The important distinction is that being off grid does not remove the normal county requirements. Navajo County has an established Planning and Development Services Department that handles zoning, construction, inspections, manufactured homes, wastewater systems, and code compliance.
What People Commonly Mention
1. There is still relatively affordable rural land
One of the reasons people look at Navajo County is the availability of rural land at prices that can be considerably lower than many more developed parts of Arizona.
As with any inexpensive rural land, price should only be the beginning of the research.
A parcel may have difficult access, limited services, no nearby utilities, seasonal roads, washes, flood concerns, unclear easements, or other conditions that make a seemingly inexpensive property much harder to use.
Before buying, check the zoning, legal access, road conditions, parcel boundaries, water options, wastewater requirements, and whether the land actually fits the life you are trying to build.
2. Roads and access can make a big difference
Navajo County covers a large amount of rural land, and the conditions can vary substantially from one area to another.
A road that looks perfectly reasonable on a map may be very different after rain, snow, or extended periods of dry weather and washboarding.
If possible, visit the property yourself and pay attention not only to the final road leading to the parcel, but also the entire route between the property and maintained roads.
Legal access and practical access are not always the same thing.
3. Water should be researched before buying
Water is one of the most important systems to understand before purchasing rural land in northeastern Arizona.
Depending on the location, people may use wells, hauled water, stored water, rainwater collection, or a combination of systems.
Before buying land, find out what people in that particular area actually do for water. Research nearby wells, hauling locations, storage requirements, delivery access, and the amount of water your own plans are likely to require.
A water system does not necessarily need to be complicated, but it does need to be realistic.
4. Off-grid living does not mean building without permits
Navajo County has an established building permit and inspection process.
The county states that permits are generally required when construction or remodeling exceeds certain size or value thresholds, and separate permits may be required for systems such as wastewater, grading, and off-grid electrical work.
This does not mean off-grid construction is impossible. It means the project needs to be planned around the rules that apply to the property.
Before buying land, contact Navajo County and explain what you actually want to do. Ask about the structure, electrical system, wastewater plan, temporary living arrangements, setbacks, zoning, and the process for eventually receiving legal occupancy if that is your goal.
5. Navajo County appears familiar with owner-builders
One thing I found particularly interesting is that Navajo County has a program called A Home of My Own.
Through that program, the county provides several single-family house plans that can be used within Navajo County at no cost.
That does not mean every project is simple or automatically approved, but it does suggest that the county has experience working with people who want to build their own homes rather than only using large conventional builders.
6. Wastewater needs to be understood early
Navajo County regulates onsite wastewater systems and normally requires an approved wastewater solution as part of the building process.
The county also states that it works with conventional systems and some alternative wastewater systems.
That is an important detail for someone planning an unconventional off-grid setup, but it should not be interpreted as approval for any particular system.
If you are interested in composting toilets, alternative privies, gray water systems, or another nonstandard setup, ask the county specifically whether that system can be permitted on your parcel and what supporting documentation would be required.
7. Alternative does not necessarily mean unpermittable
One of the mistakes people sometimes make when researching rural counties is assuming that anything outside conventional suburban construction must automatically be illegal.
That is not necessarily the case.
The better question is whether there is a legal pathway for the particular system or building method you want to use.
That is why talking directly with the county before buying is so important. Online comments can tell you what another person experienced, but they cannot tell you what will be approved on your particular parcel under the rules that apply today.
My Practical View
From what I can tell, Navajo County is worth investigating if you want to live off grid in Arizona and are willing to work through a normal permitting process.
I would not approach it with the assumption that you can simply buy cheap land and do anything you want.
I would approach it the same way I recommend approaching any county.
Start with the county. Understand what is allowed. Find land that fits those rules. Verify the property before buying it. Then build your systems in an order that makes sense.
That means thinking about shelter, water, food, power, and income together instead of treating the land purchase as the finish line.
Questions to Ask Before Buying Land in Navajo County
- What zoning applies to this parcel?
- Is the parcel legally accessible?
- Who owns and maintains the roads?
- Can the property be reached during rain or snow?
- What building permits will be required for the structure I want?
- Can I build the home myself?
- What are the setback requirements?
- What temporary living options are allowed while I build?
- Can an RV be used on the property, and under what conditions?
- What wastewater system will be required?
- Are any alternative wastewater or privy systems permitted?
- What permits are required for an off-grid solar system?
- Is hauling water realistic in this location?
- What are nearby well depths and water conditions?
- Are there washes or flood concerns on the parcel?
- Are there easements or access issues that need to be verified?
- How far is the property from groceries, fuel, building supplies, healthcare, and emergency services?
- Does this property actually fit the life I am trying to build?
Final Thought
Navajo County appears to be a realistic place to investigate for off-grid living, but that does not mean every parcel or every building plan will work.
The most useful thing you can do before buying land is contact the county and explain exactly what you intend to build and how you intend to live.
Do not rely only on land listings, social media comments, YouTube videos, or what another person was able to do several years ago.
Verify the current rules. Verify access. Understand the water situation. Understand wastewater. Then decide whether the land fits the plan.
Cheap land is only useful when you can actually build the life you want on it.
Where This Fits in the 4-Step Off-Grid Land System
Researching counties is only the first part of the process. The goal is to understand the rules before you buy anything and avoid ending up with land that does not fit your plans.