Off-grid site report

Cleburne County, AR

35.5396, -92.1523 · 538 ft elevation

Read this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Cleburne County, AR, 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 rulesCleburne County, AR

Zoning & raw-land occupancy

Varies locallyCleburne County actually has a countywide zoning ordinance adopted by its County Planning Board under state law, which is unusual for rural Arkansas counties. Land near Heber Springs may also fall under a joint city-county planning commission, so check which jurisdiction covers your specific parcel.

Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs

Unclear - verifyI couldn't confirm any county-wide standards for tiny homes or RVs as dwellings in unincorporated Cleburne County. Towns like Heber Springs have their own municipal codes that may address this separately, so ask the county planning office directly about your situation.

Building permits & codes

Varies locallyThe county ties building and use permit issuance to zoning compliance, meaning a permit can be denied if a project violates the zoning ordinance. I didn't find confirmation of which specific building code the county has adopted or how inspections work, so ask the Cleburne County Planning & Zoning office. source

Septic & composting toilets

Generally allowedSeptic and onsite wastewater systems are permitted and regulated statewide by the Arkansas Department of Health, administered through the local county health unit. There's also a state-level exemption from needing a permit if you have a single residence on ten or more acres with all system components more than 200 feet from any property line; I found no Cleburne-specific septic rules beyond this state framework. source

Greywater reuse

RestrictedI found no Cleburne County specific greywater ordinance, so this falls back to the Arkansas Department of Health's general approved-disposal standard for wastewater. Confirm specifics with the county health unit's Onsite Environmental Specialist before setting up a greywater system. source

Rainwater harvesting

Generally allowedNo county ordinance addressing rainwater collection turned up in my research, and Arkansas generally leaves outdoor rainwater harvesting largely unregulated. I'd still confirm with the county if you plan to use harvested rainwater for potable purposes.

Private wells & water rights

Generally allowedPrivate wells are allowed and governed by state Department of Health well-construction standards, since I found no distinct Cleburne County well ordinance. Many residents in the county are served instead by public water authorities like Tumbling Shoals or Mountain Top, but there's no confirmed county mandate to hook up to these systems instead of drilling a private well. source

Living disconnected from utilities

Unclear - verifyI found nothing in the county zoning chapter requiring hookup to electric, water, or sewer utilities as a condition of living on your land. That said, whatever wastewater setup you choose still has to meet Arkansas Department of Health standards regardless of grid connection, so this is worth confirming directly with the county.

Open the full county page with sources →

Sun30-year normals

Peak-sun hours, annual average: 5.0 hrs/day
Worst month (sizes an off-grid array): 3.8 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels: 1,387 kWh

JFMAMJJASOND

Weather1991-2020

Precipitation: 51 in/yr
Snowfall: 2 in/yr
Heating degree days: 3,727 (moderate)
Frost-free season: Apr 1 to Nov 4

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital Baptist Health Medical Center - Heber Springs: 9.0 mi
Fire station Cove Creek Volunteer Fire Department Station 2: 2.5 mi
Hardware store Ace Hardware: 7.1 mi
Grocery Walmart Supercenter: 7.1 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 72067).

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.