Off-Grid Living in Aquinnah, Massachusetts

I'll be upfront: Aquinnah is a small town on Martha's Vineyard with real coastal sensitivity, and that shapes almost everything here. I'm researching this, not living it, so treat this as a starting map, not a legal opinion.

Zoning. Aquinnah is zoned, under the Aquinnah Zoning Bylaws maintained by the town. The base district allows detached one-family dwellings and agricultural/farm uses, but the town also layers on several District of Critical Planning Concern (DCPC) overlays: Moshup Trail, the Cliffs, the Coastal District/Flood Plain Zone, and the North Shore DCPC. These overlays exist because of Aquinnah's famous clay cliffs and coastline, and they typically require a Special Permit from the Planning Board for many activities. Worth noting: as of late 2025 the town was studying zoning changes for a "town center" corridor along State Road, with a consultant drafting possible bylaw changes for a 2026 town meeting, so don't assume today's rules are permanent.

Dwellings, tiny homes, RVs. The zoning bylaw's list of permitted uses names detached one-family dwellings but explicitly excludes temporary or mobile structures "except as specified elsewhere in the bylaw." That's a pretty clear signal that parking an RV or mobile home as a permanent residence isn't a simple allowed use here, though the bylaw's exceptions would need to be checked with the Planning Board.

Building permits. Massachusetts uses a statewide code (780 CMR) as the baseline, and Aquinnah's Building Inspector office issues local permits. I didn't find a town-specific amendment to the state code in my research, so assume the state baseline governs unless the Building Inspector tells you otherwise.

Septic. Like every Massachusetts town, Aquinnah's septic systems fall under Title 5 (310 CMR 15.000), the state code administered by MassDEP but enforced locally by the town's Board of Health. Local boards can add stricter rules than the state minimum, and Aquinnah's Board of Health is the office that issues septic permits, but I couldn't find specific local septic regulation text beyond that Title 5 baseline.

Greywater and rainwater. I found no Aquinnah-specific bylaws on either. That means the state's general framework applies: greywater is generally treated as wastewater needing an approved system, and rainwater harvesting for outdoor use is typically fine while indoor/potable use has more legal hurdles. Confirm specifics with the Board of Health.

Wells. The Board of Health is the local permitting authority for private wells, consistent with the statewide pattern of local boards handling well siting and construction approval. I didn't find Aquinnah-specific setback or construction standards, so ask the Board of Health directly.

Off-grid utilities. No explicit bylaw addresses disconnecting from the grid, but the DCPC overlays near the Cliffs and North Shore could affect where and how you install solar or other off-grid infrastructure. Check with the Planning Board before assuming you're clear.

Bottom line: Aquinnah's coastal geography drives a lot of extra permitting layers you won't find in a typical rural town, so lean on the town offices below early in your planning.