Off-Grid Living in Windsor, Connecticut

I've been digging into what it would actually take to live off-grid in Windsor, Connecticut, and the short version is: this is a fully zoned town, and that shapes everything else.

Zoning. Windsor's Town Plan and Zoning Commission (TPZC) runs 15 separate zoning districts here, covering everything from residential to agricultural to industrial. Which zone your parcel sits in determines lot size, setbacks, and what uses are even allowed, and those specifics live at the start of each zone's section in the Zoning Regulations, available through the Planning Department. If you're eyeing raw land, your first call should be to Planning to find out which zone you're in and what it allows before you assume anything.

Dwellings, tiny homes, RVs. I couldn't find anything on Windsor's town site that specifically addresses tiny homes or RVs as year-round residences. That doesn't mean they're welcomed or banned, it just means it isn't spelled out, so standard residential zoning and the state building code would presumably apply by default. Anyone considering this should ask the Zoning Enforcement Officer directly rather than guess.

Building permits. The Windsor Building Department handles permits, inspections, and certificates of occupancy. Permits go through the town's OpenGov portal or in person at 275 Broad St. Inspections run weekdays and get scheduled by calling the department directly.

Septic and wells. A lot of Windsor is still on private septic and wells rather than municipal service, and the Windsor Health/Environmental Health Department is who reviews and permits both, including sanitary surveys and well water analysis. There are specific application forms for septic system review. Composting toilets aren't addressed anywhere I could find on the town's site, so that's genuinely unclear, ask the Health Department.

Greywater. No Windsor-specific ordinance or guidance turned up on household greywater reuse. Not confirmed either way.

Rainwater harvesting. I didn't find any Windsor rule restricting rainwater collection beyond whatever the Connecticut building code requires for larger systems tied into plumbing. Simple catchment for garden use looks fine, but confirm anything more elaborate with the Building Department.

Utilities. Windsor is served by the Metropolitan District Commission for water and sewer, and either Connecticut Natural Gas or Yankee Gas for gas, depending on where you are. If you're off those systems, you fall back on the well/septic permitting path, and you'd still need a certificate of occupancy from the Building Department for any new dwelling, off-grid or not.

Bottom line: Windsor isn't hostile to self-sufficiency exactly, but it's a well-regulated New England town, not open country, and the permitting agencies expect to be part of the process.