Off-grid site report
Palm Beach County, FL
26.5360, -80.0898 · 26 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Palm Beach County, FL, 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 rulesPalm Beach County, FL
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Varies locallyUnincorporated Palm Beach County zoning is set by the county's Unified Land Development Code (ULDC), administered by the Zoning Division, and permitted uses vary by district. No blanket off-grid provision exists; incorporated towns within the county set their own separate zoning. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
RestrictedThe county has adopted Appendix Q of the Florida Building Code, giving a defined path to build code-compliant tiny homes. RVs as permanent, disconnected residences outside approved RV parks are not clearly confirmed as legal under the ULDC.
Building permits & codes
Generally allowedPalm Beach County Building Division administers the Florida Building Code with local amendments and issues permits for construction. Owner-builders can self-permit under the state's Chapter 489 exemption if they personally perform or supervise the work. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedSeptic systems are licensed under state rule (Ch. 64E-6 F.A.C.), currently administered for Palm Beach County by the Florida Department of Health rather than the county itself. Composting toilets are not separately addressed in any official source found. source
Greywater reuse
RestrictedNo Palm Beach County-specific greywater rule was found, so the restrictive statewide Florida Building Code baseline (limited approved uses like toilet flushing) applies by default.
Rainwater harvesting
Unclear - verifyNo official county page addresses residential rainwater catchment directly; the county's code touches irrigation systems but that's not the same thing. Not confirmed either way.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedWells are regulated by the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD), not the county. A well construction permit is required before drilling, modifying, or abandoning a well, and a separate consumptive use permit may be needed depending on use. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo official Palm Beach County page explicitly permits or bans full utility disconnection. Practically, occupied dwellings still need DOH-approved sewage disposal and building/occupancy compliance regardless of grid hookups. source
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 5.7 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 5.0 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,589 kWh
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Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 61 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 0 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 211 (mild)
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Fair Oaks Pavilion - 7.3 mi
- Fire station
Boynton Beach Fire / Rescue Station 2 - 1.6 mi
- Hardware store
Lowe's - 11.9 mi
- Grocery
Publix - 2.4 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 33426).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Palm Beach County, FL?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 21, 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.