Off-grid site report
Dubois County, IN
38.4313, -86.9422Read this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Dubois County, IN, not legal advice and not a guarantee. Rules change, and the deciding facts on any specific parcel (setbacks, perc results, overlay districts, deed restrictions, road frontage) live at the county or town office, not in any database. Before you buy land or build, confirm the current rules directly with the local zoning and health offices - the sources on this page tell you exactly who to call.
The local rulesDubois County, IN
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Varies locallyDubois County (unincorporated) has not adopted a zoning ordinance, per Purdue Extension. Inside Jasper or Huntingburg city limits, local zoning/UDO codes apply instead. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyNo official county rule on tiny homes, minimum dwelling size, or RV occupancy was found for unincorporated land; confirm with the county building department. Inside cities, local UDO/zoning terms would govern. source
Building permits & codes
Generally allowedThe county's Code of Ordinances Title XV includes Chapter 150, Building Regulations, administered countywide, though specific permit steps weren't retrievable and should be confirmed with the county building department. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedDubois County Ordinance 2023-17, layered on state rule 410 IAC 6-8.3, requires a septic permit from the county Health Department, including a certified soil evaluation and site review before construction. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNo Dubois County-specific greywater ordinance was found; it likely falls under the same Health Department onsite sewage permitting, but that's not officially confirmed. Ask the county Health Department directly.
Rainwater harvesting
Unclear - verifyNo county ordinance addressing rainwater harvesting was found, either allowing or restricting it; the practical baseline appears permissive but is not officially confirmed.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedWell construction is licensed and regulated at the state level by Indiana DNR; no separate Dubois County well ordinance was found, though well siting interacts with the county's septic site-review process. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Generally allowedNo Dubois County ordinance mandates connection to public electric, water, or sewer utilities for unincorporated land. Inside Huntingburg, the city's UDO treats proximity to public infrastructure as a subdivision planning preference, not a blanket ban. source
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 4.8 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 2.9 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,339 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 49 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 4,599 (moderate)
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Deaconess Memorial Medical Center - 2.5 mi
- Fire station
Jasper Fire Department - 0.8 mi
- Hardware store
The Home Depot - 0.4 mi
- Grocery
Walmart Supercenter - 0.5 mi
From OpenStreetMap. Road miles will be longer, often much longer in hill country.
Plan this spot
These open with this location's real numbers already filled in (ZIP 47545).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Dubois County, IN?The rules above are the jurisdiction. The land check runs the parcel itself: flood zone, soils and septic suitability, wetlands, slope, access, climate, and these verdicts, from a parcel number or coordinates.
Check a parcel →Share or save this report:New report
Sources: US Census Bureau geocoder; NLR PVWatts v8 (solar); NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 climate normals (nearest station) or Open-Meteo (ZIP-centroid) for weather; Open-Elevation; OpenStreetMap contributors. Public data retrieved Aug 22, 2026; agencies update their layers on their own schedules. Planning data, not a survey or legal advice.
New here, or not sure where this fits? Start here walks through the whole thing in order.