Off-Grid Living in Fayette County, West Virginia

If you're eyeing raw land in Fayette County, West Virginia for an off-grid setup, here's what I've found digging through the county's official pages. The short version: Fayette County is not one of those "no zoning at all" West Virginia counties. It's had a countywide Zoning Department and a Unified Development Code since 2009, so land use rules do apply outside the towns. That's a meaningful difference from neighboring counties with looser or nonexistent zoning, and it's the first thing to build your plan around.

Zoning. The Fayette County Zoning Officer administers the Unified Development Code and handles rezoning and Special Use Permit applications. I couldn't find a clear public breakdown of exactly how raw, unclassified land is treated for occupancy, so I'd call the Zoning Officer before you buy. Note that the incorporated Town of Fayetteville has its own separate municipal zoning ordinance that only applies inside town limits, so if your parcel is in the county outside Fayetteville, the county UDC governs, not the town code.

Dwellings, tiny homes, RVs. I found nothing in the county's public zoning materials that spells out tiny home or RV occupancy standards. This is a "call and ask" situation with the Zoning Officer, not something I can confirm from what's published.

Building permits. Fayette County has adopted the IRC 2015 and requires a permit before you build, alter, or install regulated systems (electrical, gas, mechanical, plumbing). You apply through the Building Department and pay the Fayette County Clerk. This is stricter than the "optional" baseline some WV counties use.

Septic. All septic systems in the county must be permitted, installed by a Certified Septic Installer, and inspected/approved by a Sanitarian at the Fayette County Health Department, using Form SS-182A. Composting toilets aren't separately addressed at the county level; alternative systems for failed conventional setups or poor soil are handled through the state Bureau for Public Health's environmental health program.

Greywater. No county-specific greywater rule exists that I could find. It appears to fall under the same Health Department septic/onsite sewage review process, but that's my inference, not a confirmed distinct policy.

Rainwater harvesting. No county ordinance turned up restricting it. As with the state generally, non-potable rainwater collection looks unregulated, but I'd confirm nothing local has changed.

Wells. Private wells fall under the state's Water Well Certification Program, with the county Health Department involved locally (especially for well-to-septic setbacks). I did not find a dedicated Fayette County water authority or Public Service District page for wells specifically.

Utility disconnection. I found no standalone ordinance requiring hookup to utilities. Off-grid living here seems to hinge on the three permitting tracks above (zoning, building, septic) rather than a blanket utility mandate, but that's not explicitly confirmed either way.

Bottom line: this is a county where you can't just wing it on raw land. Talk to the Zoning Officer and Building Department early.