Off-grid site report
Monroe County, FL
24.5723, -81.7417 · 0 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Monroe 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 rulesMonroe County, FL
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
RestrictedUnincorporated Monroe County zoning under Land Development Code Chapter 130 is strict, with Conservation and Native Area districts heavily limiting occupancy, and a county-run Rate of Growth Ordinance (ROGO) caps annual building permits regardless of land ownership. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
RestrictedTiny/conventional homes must meet Florida Building Code minimums enforced by the county Building Department, RVs are generally confined to a dedicated RV zoning district or licensed parks, and enclosed space below elevated homes cannot legally become living space under floodplain rules. source
Building permits & codes
RestrictedAll construction requires permits and inspections from the Monroe County Building Department, and beyond standard Florida Building Code compliance, the county's ROGO point system limits how many permits are issued each year through 2026. source
Septic & composting toilets
RestrictedThe State of Florida mandated in 1999 that the Keys largely eliminate septic in favor of centralized advanced wastewater treatment; FKAA now provides sewer to unincorporated areas south of Mile Marker 87, and where OSTDS still applies, the Florida Department of Health's Monroe County office handles permitting. source
Greywater reuse
RestrictedNo Monroe County-specific greywater ordinance was found, so the state Florida Building Code baseline applies, generally limiting reuse to toilet/urinal flushing through an approved system.
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedFKAA actively encourages rainwater catchment, offering rebates for cistern storage and promoting septic-to-cistern conversions, though this is framed for non-potable uses like landscaping and washing rather than confirmed as a sole potable source.
Private wells & water rights
RestrictedFKAA is the sole potable water provider for the Keys, drawing from an off-island aquifer, and saltwater intrusion makes private potable wells impractical even though state well-permitting rules technically still exist. source
Living disconnected from utilities
RestrictedNo single ordinance bans full utility disconnection, but the mandatory centralized wastewater conversion, ROGO permit caps, and sole-source water utility make fully off-grid, permitted living very difficult in unincorporated Monroe County.
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 6.0 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 5.3 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,675 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 40 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 0 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 73 (mild)
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Lower Keys Medical Center - 0.6 mi
- Fire station
Monroe County Fire / Rescue Station 8 - 0.3 mi
- Hardware store
The Home Depot - 1.9 mi
- Grocery
The Smokehouse KW - 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 33040).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Monroe 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 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.