Off-grid site report
Wicomico County, MD
38.3717, -75.5891 · 36 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Wicomico County, MD, 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 rulesWicomico County, MD
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
RestrictedWicomico County has comprehensive countywide zoning under Chapter 225 of the county code, adopted by the County Council, regulating height, bulk, setbacks, density, and land use. Incorporated towns within the county may have their own separate zoning codes. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
RestrictedRVs and campgrounds are regulated under a dedicated zoning section as transient uses with density caps, not as standalone permanent dwellings on raw land. Manufactured and site-built homes fall under separate zoning categories; exact tiny-home permit specifics were not confirmed, so check with county Planning, Zoning & Community Development. source
Building permits & codes
RestrictedWicomico County Department of Public Works issues building and electrical permits, but a building permit cannot be issued if the project involves plumbing, well, or septic work without a valid Health Department permit first. Floodplain development also triggers separate county compliance requirements. source
Septic & composting toilets
RestrictedThe Wicomico County Health Department's Environmental Health Division permits and inspects all septic systems, including perc tests, under state-delegated authority. Composting toilets were not addressed in county materials found, so Maryland's state baseline rules likely apply pending confirmation with the Health Department. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNo county-specific greywater ordinance or health department guidance was found; Maryland's state-level greywater law is presumed to apply as the baseline. Confirm directly with the county Health Department's Environmental Health Division, which oversees plumbing and on-site sewage systems. source
Rainwater harvesting
Unclear - verifyNo explicit county provision permitting or restricting household rainwater harvesting was found; the state's baseline rule allowing non-potable rainwater use is presumed to apply. County stormwater documents address drainage design for new construction but don't set a specific rainwater-harvesting rule. source
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedThe Wicomico County Health Department's Environmental Health Division permits and inspects all private wells under state-delegated authority, and a well permit is generally required before a Certificate of Occupancy can be issued if a well serves the dwelling. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo standalone county ordinance addressing full disconnection from the electric grid was found. Occupancy requirements indirectly cover water and waste self-sufficiency through well and septic permitting, but full off-grid electric living doesn't appear separately regulated in materials reviewed.
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 5.0 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 3.3 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,438 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 46 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 3 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 3,825 (moderate)
- Frost-free season
- Apr 3 to Nov 7
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Peninsula Regional Medical Center - 0.9 mi
- Fire station
Salisbury Fire Department Station 2 - 0.2 mi
- Hardware store
Farmers & Planters Co - 0.9 mi
- Grocery
Save-A-Lot - 1.1 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 21802).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Wicomico County, MD?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.