Off-grid site report
Buncombe County, NC
35.5877, -82.5980 · 2,070 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Buncombe County, NC, 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 rulesBuncombe County, NC
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Varies locallyBuncombe County Zoning Ordinance (Chapter 78) sets a permitted-use table that varies by district; most uses are staff-approved administratively but some need a Special Use Permit. This only applies in unincorporated areas, not inside town limits. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Varies locallyFoundation-built tiny homes are permitted under the state's Appendix Q standards; RVs and travel trailers are treated as restricted for permanent occupancy locally, but a specific day-limit is not confirmed on an official county source. source
Building permits & codes
Generally allowedBuncombe County requires a Building Permit, but it won't issue one until zoning review and septic Authorization to Construct are completed, per the county's own permitting checklist. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedAny residence not served by public sewer must have an approved wastewater system; Buncombe County Environmental Health issues septic permits and roughly half the county relies on septic. Composting toilet rules are not separately confirmed at the county level. source
Greywater reuse
RestrictedNo Buncombe County-specific greywater ordinance was found, so this inherits the state baseline treating greywater as a regulated wastewater system.
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedNo county restriction on rainwater harvesting was found, so the state's baseline protection for cisterns and rain barrels applies.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedPrivate wells are permitted and administered by Buncombe County Environmental Health under state well construction standards; applications go through the same office as septic permits. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo standalone county ordinance bans living without grid electricity or municipal water/sewer, but the septic-before-building-permit sequence means a legally permitted structure can't bypass wastewater approval. Whether unpermitted off-grid structures face separate rules is not confirmed. source
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 5.1 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 4.0 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,402 kWh
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Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 37 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 13 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 4,086 (moderate)
- Frost-free season
- Apr 10 to Oct 28
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Mission Hospital - 2.8 mi
- Fire station
Station 10 - 2.6 mi
- Hardware store
Northern Tool and Equipment - 1.5 mi
- Grocery
YZ Asian Market - 0.1 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 28806).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Buncombe County, NC?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 21, 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.