Hello everyone, any tips for supplying water and other utilities to a homestead cabin? Currently water main is approx 300 ft from cabin. Joshua water basin company states they need structure plans.( not sure if this "recreational cabin" would be permitted to have main water connection).Any ideas on a water tank?  Any advise on sewage? Would solar panels be a good idea? thanks for the tips!

Hey @John Vega , all this is pretty vague. I assume you mean Joshua Tree right? This is a dry cabin? Does it have electricity?

How big is the parcel? Does it perk for a septic? You aren't even sure that this cabin is allowed to have any utilities?

How big is the place? How far from services (restaurants, grocery etc) is it? Solar is pricey to implement correctly if you want to be off the grid electrically so you need to see if the value in the property is there.

It sounds like there are a few more steps you need to complete before you can answer the questions.

My apologies, yes Joshua Tree CA. Currently it is a dry cabin, No water meter, nor main water line to the structure, no electricity (no meter), no sewage either. It is 400 sq feet, 2.5 acres built in 1957. 

We're waiting on the city to see what it was originally permitted for. Just curious if anyone has gone "off grid" with solar and possibly a water tank with solar panels. 

Its  2-3 miles north of HWY 29. Nearest store is 0.5 miles away.

Thanks @Michael Baum

@John Vega I've heard that you can go off grid with solar in San Bernardino County but I haven't looked into it personally. They're supposed to have an expedited process to convert from Homestead to Single Family Dwelling but I don't know anyone that's actually done it yet and you'd need a bathroom/sewer etc. 

You should be able to hook up septic relatively easily out there. 

City would have to install the water main for your parcel and it's not exactly cheap. Is the 300' all on your property or do you need an easement? How far away is the nearest power pole?