Off-grid site report

Clermont County, OH

39.0177, -84.1986 · 892 ft elevation
Read this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Clermont County, OH, 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 rulesClermont County, OH

Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Varies locallyClermont County has no general zoning code; townships are authorized to enact zoning under Ohio Revised Code 519, and some (like Washington Township) have none at all while others have full zoning resolutions. Check with the specific township zoning office. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Varies locallyNo county-level rule found on tiny homes or RV occupancy; this is set township by township, with some resolutions tying manufactured/mobile home standards to state health department and county board of health minimums. Confirm with the applicable township zoning office. source
Building permits & codes
Generally allowedThe Clermont County Building Inspection Department is state-certified to regulate all residential and commercial construction countywide, including villages, under the Residential Code of Ohio and Ohio Building Code. Even fences over six feet need a permit. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedClermont County Public Health administers septic permitting under Ohio Administrative Code authority, requiring plan approval before construction and inspection before a system is covered or used. Composting toilets specifically are not addressed in county materials found. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNo Clermont County-specific greywater page was found; local regulations reference advanced-technology sewage systems with pre-treatment or timed dosing under state code, but standalone greywater systems aren't clearly addressed. Confirm directly with Clermont County Public Health.
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedCisterns are the most commonly used private water system in the county because local geology makes well drilling difficult, and the Ohio Department of Health regulates these systems with Clermont County Public Health handling application and inspection. source
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedWells remain a legal option under Ohio Department of Health oversight, though cisterns are far more common locally due to geology; well and septic applications must be reviewed together before a building permit for new construction is issued. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo ordinance was found requiring connection to public electric or water, but the county's permitting sequence effectively requires an approved water source and sewage plan before a building permit issues; off-grid electric power isn't addressed in any source found. source

Open the full county page with sources →

Sun30-year normals

Peak-sun hours, annual average
4.6 hrs/day
Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
2.5 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
1,274 kWh
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Weather1991-2020

Precipitation
45 in/yr
Snowfall
16 in/yr
Heating degree days
5,262 (moderate)
Frost-free season
Apr 20 to Oct 20

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital
The Jewish Hospital
16.4 mi
Fire station
Pierce Township Fire Department Station 44
4.1 mi
Hardware store
Lowe's
6.4 mi
Grocery
Jungle Jim’s International Market
6.6 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 45102).

Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt

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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.