Off-Grid Living in Durham, Connecticut

I've been digging into what off-grid living actually looks like in Durham, Connecticut, and the short version is: this is a zoned town with real teeth behind its rules, especially around water and septic. Don't expect to buy raw land here and just start building however you like.

Zoning. Durham is fully zoned, administered by the Durham Planning and Zoning Commission. The regulations divide the town into residential and other districts, each with a table of permitted uses, and only one principal use is generally allowed per residential lot. There's also a locally-set setback (50 feet) from watercourses for buildings. If you're eyeing a parcel, check its zone and the permitted-use table before assuming you can put a dwelling on it.

Tiny homes and RVs. I couldn't confirm a specific Durham ordinance addressing tiny homes or RVs as full-time residences. The general one-principal-use-per-lot rule would likely apply, but you should call the Planning and Zoning Commission directly before assuming a tiny house or RV can be your legal permanent home.

Building permits. The Building and Land Use Department enforces the Connecticut State Building Code locally. Notably, the town's code (Chapter 6) requires a plot plan showing the septic system and well location as part of any permit application, and it will not issue a building permit for a new dwelling until a sewage system permit is in hand and, absent public water, a well has been installed per the state Public Health Code.

Septic and composting toilets. Septic permits go through the local health authority, and Durham has joined the Connecticut River Area Health District as of mid-2023, so that district now handles this function. A sewage permit is a hard prerequisite to a building permit. I found nothing specific on composting toilets as an alternative, so that's a question for the health district.

Greywater. No Durham-specific rule turned up in my research. This likely falls back to whatever the state Department of Public Health or DEEP says generally, not a distinct town ordinance, so treat this as unclear and ask before you build a greywater system.

Rainwater harvesting. I found no town rule restricting this beyond the state building code provision, which is the general reference point. The Building and Land Use Department would handle any installation permitting.

Wells. New wells must meet the state Public Health Code's well-construction standards, reviewed by the local health authority, and are required before a building permit issues unless you can connect to public water.

Utility disconnection. Because a building permit for new construction requires both a sewage permit and a well (or public water hookup), Durham's system is built to prevent truly "off-grid" new construction without health department sign-off, at least for water and waste. That's a state Public Health Code requirement carried out locally.

Bottom line: Durham lets you live simply and rurally, but the town, working within Connecticut's state framework, keeps a firm hand on water and septic before you can build. Call ahead, every time.