Off-grid site report

Clallam County, WA

48.2559, -124.2558 · 85 ft elevation

Read this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Clallam County, WA, 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 rulesClallam County, WA

Zoning & raw-land occupancy

Varies locallyClallam County has countywide zoning under Title 33 with Resource, Rural, Urban, Commercial, and Industrial zones plus UGA overlays; allowed uses depend entirely on the specific zone, per the county's Department of Community Development. source

Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs

RestrictedThe county requires a DCD placement permit for park models/tiny homes on wheels, and that permit explicitly requires connection to approved sewage, potable water, and electrical service, so a fully off-grid tiny home isn't permitted as written. source

Building permits & codes

Generally allowedClallam County's DCD Building Division requires permits for most construction, alteration, or repair of structures under the state building code, with a narrow exemption for small sheds under 400 sq ft and short fences/walls. source

Septic & composting toilets

Generally allowedSeptic installation, repair, or replacement requires a permit from Clallam County Environmental Health Services, starting with a site evaluation, and ongoing maintenance is mandated by the state; whether composting toilets alone satisfy requirements is not confirmed. source

Greywater reuse

Unclear - verifyGreywater reuse falls under Washington State's WAC 246-274 standard, likely administered locally by Environmental Health, but no Clallam-specific greywater ordinance was confirmed; ask Environmental Health directly. source

Rainwater harvesting

Generally allowedClallam County's rainwater-related rule concerns drainage plans to control runoff rather than restricting catchment; no prohibition on rooftop collection for non-potable use was found, though potable use ties into the county's water-availability process. source

Private wells & water rights

Varies locallyWashington State's RCW 90.44.050 exempts certain small groundwater withdrawals from water-right permitting, but Clallam County separately requires proof of potable water (often via a well) for most building permits, with its own minimum yield standard for land divisions. source

Living disconnected from utilities

Unclear - verifyNo standalone county ordinance bans off-grid living outright, but building, septic, and park-model permit requirements make full utility disconnection difficult for an occupied legal dwelling; solar-only power in lieu of grid electrical service is not confirmed as acceptable and should be asked of DCD Building Division directly. source

Open the full county page with sources →

Sun30-year normals

Peak-sun hours, annual average: 3.7 hrs/day
Worst month (sizes an off-grid array): 1.7 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels: 1,053 kWh

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Weather1991-2020

Precipitation: 120 in/yr
Snowfall: 8 in/yr
Heating degree days: 5,477 (moderate)
Frost-free season: Apr 23 to Oct 29

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital Forks Community Hospital: 22.3 mi
Fire station Clallam County Fire District 5 Station: 0.6 mi
Hardware store Decker City Hardware: 22.0 mi
Grocery Sunset West Coop: 0.2 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 98326).

Size a solar system Heat loss & insulation Firewood per winter Rainwater harvest Garden size Panel tilt

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.