Many people are thinking of going off the grid and living in the woods.
While living the wildlife seems like an interesting idea, there are laws and regulations that everyone must follow. Before thinking of such an idea, you have to ask yourself, is it legal to live in the woods?
Yes and No – It Depends!
Whether you can live in the woods is a matter of controversy. There are thousands of different areas in the US that are subject to various rules. Not only that, but there are some rules that contradict others.
For example, some areas will allow you to camp for as long as you’d like. However, there’ll be a rule that prohibits hunting, for example. This will put a damper on your plans unless you’re planning to carry tons of canned food with you. Furthermore, some areas are legal to live in, but they’ll require you to maintain a mailing address, which is probably not a part of your plans.
There’s also the fact that you may not be able to practice your rights as a citizen, because you won’t have a physical address or a tax record. The government gives homeless people some rights that protect them, but you won’t be considered a homeless person if you chose to live in the woods.
To sum it up, you’ll likely face two issues, trying to live in the woods, ownership, and laws.
Ownership
Some facts are hard to swallow, such as the fact that you don’t own the ground below your feet. Living in the vast green space that you’ve been keeping an eye on for years seems tempting, but there’s a high chance it’s privately-owned. This makes any trespasser susceptible to legal questioning.
If you own the land yourself, or if you have a friend who does, that’s a different case. You’ll be okay to live there for as long as you’d like. However, you’d be not allowed to hunt or find water. Therefore, you need to plan how you intend to get these resources without breaching the law.
How about adverse possession? Many squatters see it as a chance to seize a piece of land. However, I see it as an unnecessary risk. For one, squatting is illegal, which serves as a risk on its own.
Besides, if the land’s owner shows up with a court order, you’ll likely find yourself in an unpleasant situation. There’s also the fact that you can’t dispossess the Us government, and finding a private land that’s abandoned by its owner isn’t a frequent occurrence.
Laws
This is where the real problems begin. The US has some pretty tight laws concerning wildlife. For one, The Wilderness Act denotes that wild areas should be preserved for the future. Thus, no man is allowed to live in areas protected by it. Humans are only allowed to visit.
So, how about the areas that are free of this act? They’re likely owned by the US government, whether it’s the United States Forest Service or the Bureau of Land Management. Combined, they have control over 400 million acres of land.
If you plan on living on Forest Service land, they’ll have you move after two weeks, which is the maximum amount of time someone can spend there. Additionally, they’ll likely refuse to renew your duration.
Furthermore, some rules dictate that you can’t camp on your own land unless you have long-term permission for camping.
If you’re thinking of trying your luck in a national park, I advise against it. These parks, along with military bases have a lot of red flags surrounding them. You’re better off away from them.
What Are the Alternatives?
If you still want to live in the woods, but you don’t want to face legal questioning. There are a couple of alternatives that you may want to consider.
Join a Commune
There are thousands of communes in the US that you can give a try. They’re divided into various categories. For example, there are some ecovillage communes that aim at reducing the members’ footprint. On the other hand, there are student communes; their members likely live off-campus and leave the area upon graduation.
Living with a bunch of people who have similar interests seems like an interesting idea for a lot of people. You can give it a try if you want to escape your life routine for a while.
Try Van Dwelling
Van dwelling is subject to a lot of legal restrictions, but it’s not nearly as hard as living in the woods. Once you gain access to a van and a land where you can stay the night, you’ll be okay. You’ll also have the freedom to be on the move, rather than sticking to one place.
The only issue you’ll face is finding a public place that allows you to park for free. There are some chain stores that allow it, such as Walmart and Cabela’s, but only a few do.
Consider Farming
If you don’t mind sweating, you can consider the Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms. They’ll give you a farming job and a place to live. You’ll also gain some skills in the process. It’s not the same as living in the woods, but it still offers a change from the ordinary life.
If you like the idea of working and having a place to live for free, you can also take a look at Job Corps.
Final Thoughts
Living in the woods is a dream for some people. But unfortunately, it’s not as easy as it sounds. The laws are too restricting, and no one wants to get caught in the middle of it. Your best bet is owning a piece of land, which is a challenge on its own. However, you still have some nice alternatives, so it’s a matter of choice.
I hope you find what’s best for you either way!