West · AZ
Arizona
Confidence: High
Most off-grid-permissive state in the West (esp. Cochise & Mohave counties), but water is the limiting factor everywhere.
+7
Overall
Verdict
Mixed — pick parcel carefully
Weighted across Water · Legal · Soil · Energy · Climate
Quick stats
- Region
- West
- Overall score
- +7
- Confidence
- High
Domain breakdown
How AZ scores
Water-20 / ±50
Legal+30 / ±40
Soil-6 / ±30
Energy+22 / ±25
Climate Risk-16 / ±25
In its favor
- +Cochise County allows owner-built/off-grid widely
- +Best solar in US
- +No septic perc required in some counties
Watch-outs
- −Wells often 400–800+ ft
- −Drought
- −Heat extremes
- −Wildfire in high country
Notes by domain
Water
-20Groundwater scarce; deep wells; surface water nearly absent outside Mogollon Rim.
Legal
+30Cochise County is the national reference for permissive off-grid building.
Soil
-6Caliche, low organic; raised beds usually required.
Energy
+22Best solar resource in lower 48.
Climate Risk
-16Heat, wildfire (forested elevations), monsoon flash floods.
Counties to investigate first
CochiseMohaveApacheNavajo