Living off-grid is legal in Mohave County, but the county still regulates how you build, where you put the structure, how you handle waste, and where your water comes from. Every habitable building needs a permit from the Development Services Department, every system has to meet code, and the structure has to sit on a permanent foundation before you can occupy it. The Mohave County off-grid regulations summarized below cover what you’ll actually have to apply for, pay for, and pass inspection on.
Where You Can Build
Most off-grid parcels fall under Agricultural-Residential (A-R) or Residential Recreation (R-E) zoning, both of which allow single-family homes, manufactured homes, and agricultural uses on larger rural lots.1Mohave County. Mohave County Zoning Ordinance Setbacks in both zones are 15 feet front, 5 feet each side, and 15 feet rear. Manufactured and mobile homes get a 10-foot rear setback instead of 15.2Mohave County. Section 35 Setbacks and Area Requirements
Your site plan has to show those distances accurately. Inspectors check early, and a structure placed too close to a line gets flagged before framing starts.
You Can’t Live in a Shed or RV First
Several residential zones enforce a “primary use” rule: the county won’t permit an accessory building (detached garage, workshop, storage) unless a primary residence already exists on the parcel or has an approved building permit on file.1Mohave County. Mohave County Zoning Ordinance You can’t put up a barn and move into it while you figure out the house.
RVs face the same logic. The zoning ordinance prohibits RV habitation in multiple residential zones except under limited circumstances written into the code. If you’re planning to park a travel trailer and live in it while you build, confirm the specifics with Development Services first. Violations carry a $250 penalty fee on top of the regular permit cost, and civil penalties for zoning infractions can run up to the Class 2 misdemeanor maximum.1Mohave County. Mohave County Zoning Ordinance
Building Standards
All construction in unincorporated Mohave County is held to the 2018 International Residential Code and the 2017 National Electrical Code.3Mohave County. Building Division Every dwelling needs a permanent foundation. Auger-type tie-downs and ground anchors do not count. Any structure with plumbing, gas, or electrical systems must sit on a real foundation.4Mohave County. Building Ordinance 2021-03
Structural plans across the county have to account for a 115 mph ultimate design wind speed.5Mohave County. Information For Quick Reference Higher-elevation parcels may also need engineering for snow loads.
Tiny Homes and Shipping Containers
Mohave County has adopted IRC Appendix Q, so tiny houses have a clear legal path. A tiny house is defined as a dwelling of 600 square feet or less, not counting lofts. Habitable rooms must be at least 65 square feet with a minimum ceiling height of 6 feet 4 inches, and loft ceilings can drop to 4 feet.4Mohave County. Building Ordinance 2021-03
A tiny house on wheels is a different matter. Because the ordinance requires a permanent foundation for any structure with plumbing, gas, or electrical, a wheeled unit with those systems is a problem. If it’s built to RVIA standards, the county may classify it as a recreational vehicle, which brings the RV habitation restrictions back into play.
Shipping containers used strictly for storage, with no utilities connected, don’t require a permit.4Mohave County. Building Ordinance 2021-03 Add plumbing, wiring, or any intent to use the container as living space and it becomes a building under the full IRC, meaning engineered plans, a permanent foundation, and the same permits as a conventional home.
Water Supply
You need to show a legal water source before the county will issue a building permit for a habitable structure. Three options are realistic: a drilled well, hauled water in cisterns, or rainwater harvesting.
Drilled Wells
Drilling in Arizona requires filing a Notice of Intent to Drill with the Arizona Department of Water Resources before any work begins.6Arizona Department of Water Resources. Permitting and Wells Overview The filing fee is $150 for most wells, or $100 if the well is outside an active management area, used only for domestic purposes, and limited to a 35 gallons per minute pump capacity. The reduced fee covers most off-grid homesteads in the county.7Arizona Legislature. Arizona Revised Statutes 45-596 – Notice of Intention to Drill; Fee The Department can block the project if required information is missing, so submit the form complete.
Hauled Water and Rainwater
Hauled water stored in cisterns is common across the desert portions of the county. Cisterns have to meet sanitary standards to prevent contamination. Arizona also allows unrestricted rainwater harvesting on private property with no volume caps. Rainwater handles irrigation and livestock well; using it as indoor drinking water calls for filtration and disinfection designed in from the start.
Wastewater
Without a sewer connection, every off-grid home needs a permitted waste system. The Development Services Department handles on-site wastewater permits.8Mohave County. Forms and Applications
Septic
A standard residential septic permit is $518 and covers plan review, a site evaluation, and one final inspection. It starts with a percolation test. If the soil fails, you move to an engineered alternative system, which raises the permit fee to $940 and requires an engineer’s stamp confirming the design meets daily flow for your household size.9Mohave County. Septic and Well Permitting
Composting Toilets
Composting toilets are explicitly on the county’s fee schedule at the same $518 as a conventional system.9Mohave County. Septic and Well Permitting Under Arizona rules, composting toilets are alternative on-site wastewater treatment facilities and need a Type 4 General Aquifer Protection Permit. You submit a site plan, a design report, an operation and maintenance plan, and construction drawings. After installation, a licensed engineer inspects the system and signs a certificate of completion before the county issues discharge authorization.
Greywater
Arizona permits residential greywater reuse without a permit if you follow the state’s best management practices. Greywater covers showers, bathtubs, bathroom sinks, and clothes washers. Kitchen sink and dishwasher water don’t qualify. Daily discharge has to stay under 400 gallons, and groundwater has to be at least 5 feet below the surface year-round.10Arizona Department of Environmental Quality. Using Gray Water at Home
You can use greywater for landscape irrigation and composting, through flood or drip methods only, no sprinklers. It can’t contact edible portions of food plants, though tree fruit growing above the irrigation line is fine. Greywater can’t reduce the required capacity of your septic system, so design it as a supplement.10Arizona Department of Environmental Quality. Using Gray Water at Home
Solar Power
Off-grid solar is permittable, with paperwork. Under Arizona law, counties must issue solar construction permits following specific standards. Plans need to show the system’s location on the roof or ground, panel mounting details, and electrical diagrams including a one-line or three-line diagram. The county cannot require a professional engineer’s stamp on a solar installation unless it provides a written explanation of why one is necessary.11Arizona Legislature. Arizona Revised Statutes 11-323 – Solar Construction Permits; Standards; Definition
All wiring meets the 2017 NEC. For battery banks, inspectors check grounding, circuit protection, and disconnect placement. Battery storage ventilation under NEC 706 depends on chemistry: lithium iron phosphate systems don’t produce hydrogen gas the way lead-acid does, so ventilation generally follows the manufacturer’s instructions. Clearance and working space around the equipment are required either way.
Solar permit fees vary by location. A system near Kingman, Lake Havasu City, or Bullhead City costs less in inspection fees than one in a remote area like Planet Ranch, where inspector travel time adds to the cost.12Mohave County. Resolution 2010-193 – Adoption of Mohave County Ordinance 2010-15 Budget a few hundred dollars in combined permit and inspection fees.
What the Permits Actually Cost
Building permit fees are based on project valuation. A home valued between $50,000 and $100,000 starts at a base building permit fee of $563.76 for the first $50,000 plus $6.21 for each additional $1,000. Plan review for a single-family residence adds 25% of the permit fee, and every permit carries a $40 automation fee.13Mohave County. Mohave County Building Fee Schedule
For a typical off-grid build, add in the septic permit ($518 conventional or $940 alternative), the well filing fee ($100 for most domestic wells), solar and electrical permits, and any additional inspections. The all-in permitting cost for a modest off-grid project easily lands between $1,500 and $2,500, before engineering fees for septic design or structural plans.
Application, Inspections, and Keeping the Permit Alive
Start with the county’s checklist for your project type. You’ll need the Assessor’s Parcel Number for your property, a site plan showing all proposed structures with accurate setback dimensions, and engineering documents for septic and solar.14Mohave County. Mohave County Building Permit Application Wastewater applications run on a separate form through the same department.
Once plans are approved and the permit issued, post it at the site. Inspections run in sequence: foundation, framing, electrical, plumbing, wastewater. Each has to pass before the next stage. A certificate of occupancy comes only after every inspection clears.
Permit Expiration
A building permit becomes invalid if work doesn’t start within 180 days of issuance, or if work stops for 180 consecutive days once it has begun. Each passed inspection resets the 180-day clock, so a steady inspection cadence keeps the permit alive. If you need more time, email building@mohave.gov to request an extension before the 180 days run out.15Mohave County. Frequently Asked Questions A lapsed permit means starting the application and fees over.
Your 911 Address
The county assigns a physical 911 address during permitting, based on where the structure sits and where your driveway meets the road. Addresses aren’t assigned to vacant land, so you won’t get one until you pull a building, zoning, or manufactured home permit. Any structure over 300 square feet requires a permit, which triggers the address assignment.16Mohave County. Physical Address Verification Request Without an address, emergency services may not find your property. The Rural Addressing Coordinator handles questions at 928-757-0903 ext. 5827.