Off-grid site report
San Diego County, CA
32.8439, -116.7601 · 2,133 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for San Diego County, CA, 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 rulesSan Diego County, CA
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Varies locallySan Diego County PDS's Zoning Ordinance governs unincorporated land only, zone by zone; there's no blanket county permit for off-grid occupancy but also no automatic right to occupy raw land without a legal dwelling and applicable use approvals. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
RestrictedPDS follows state Health and Safety Code definitions that treat park model trailers and RVs as not approved for permanent habitation; Tiny Homes on Wheels have a specific PDS Director's Determination pathway if placed on a private lot. source
Building permits & codes
RestrictedPDS requires a preliminary septic layout be submitted to DEHQ alongside the building permit application when a property isn't on public sewer, and won't approve the building permit until DEHQ clears the septic design. source
Septic & composting toilets
RestrictedDEHQ, under its state Regional Water Board-approved LAMP, can permit conventional septic systems countywide and mound systems only in Valley Center; other alternative systems are currently off limits. Composting toilets as a standalone legal option are not confirmed in official documents. source
Greywater reuse
Generally allowedDEHQ oversees greywater only in unincorporated areas; a simple single-clothes-washer system can be installed without a permit, while larger systems need one. source
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedCounty ordinance text excludes captured rainwater from the definition of greywater, and I found no additional county restriction on simple rooftop rainwater collection beyond the separate stormwater discharge ordinance. source
Private wells & water rights
RestrictedDEHQ must be contacted regarding well installation and use if a property isn't on public water, may require a water sample, and must confirm potable water quality before a building permit issues. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo official San Diego County page directly addresses disconnection from utilities as its own legal category; it's handled indirectly through building, septic, and water rules, so confirm with PDS or DEHQ for your specific situation.
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 6.3 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 5.2 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,754 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 17 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 0 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 1,909 (mild)
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Palomar Medical Center Poway - 20.2 mi
- Fire station
Alpine Fire Station - 1.1 mi
- Hardware store
Ace Hardware - 1.1 mi
- Grocery
Alpine Ranch Market - 0.7 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 91903).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in San Diego County, CA?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.