Off-grid site report

Caroline County, MD

38.8633, -75.8209 · 52 ft elevation

Read this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Caroline 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 rulesCaroline County, MD

Zoning & raw-land occupancy

RestrictedCaroline County has unified countywide zoning, administered by the Department of Planning and Codes, with Rural, Residential, and Rural Revitalization overlay districts. Raw land use depends on district and requires site plan review for development. source

Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs

Unclear - verifyNo official county source confirms minimum dwelling size or RV-as-residence rules; the building code adoption article does extend permit requirements to manufactured homes. Confirm specifics with the Department of Planning and Codes. source

Building permits & codes

RestrictedCaroline County requires building permits for nearly all construction and system work in unincorporated areas, with multiple internal reviews per application, administered by Planning and Codes. source

Septic & composting toilets

RestrictedSeptic systems must be installed by a state- and county-licensed installer and require percolation approval before permitting, administered by the Caroline County Health Department; composting toilets aren't separately addressed. source

Greywater reuse

Unclear - verifyNo Caroline County-specific greywater ordinance was found; this appears to default to Maryland's state baseline restricting reuse to shower, bathtub, and bathroom-sink sources. Confirm with the county Health Department.

Rainwater harvesting

Unclear - verifyNo Caroline County-specific rainwater ordinance was found; it appears to default to the state's general allowance for rainwater harvesting. Not confirmed at the county level.

Private wells & water rights

RestrictedWells require Environmental Health Division approval and a licensed driller, with specific setback distances from structures and septic systems, plus required water testing before a Certificate of Potability is issued, per the Caroline County Health Department.

Living disconnected from utilities

Unclear - verifyNo standalone Caroline County ordinance addresses full grid disconnection; it's governed indirectly through building permit water-supply verification requirements, especially in towns with public water.

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): 3.5 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels: 1,436 kWh

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Weather1991-2020

Precipitation: 45 in/yr
Snowfall: 14 in/yr
Heating degree days: 4,758 (moderate)
Frost-free season: Apr 14 to Oct 25

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital University of Maryland Shore Medical Center at Easton: 15.2 mi
Fire station Denton Volunteer Fire Company: 1.2 mi
Hardware store Choptank Supply: 1.6 mi
Grocery ALDI: 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 21629).

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.