Off-grid site report
Nez Perce County, ID
46.3577, -117.0604 · 732 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Nez Perce County, ID, 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 rulesNez Perce County, ID
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
RestrictedNez Perce County has its own countywide zoning ordinance and Official Zoning Map with multiple districts; a zoning certificate from the county zoning official is required before land use or building begins. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Varies locallyCounty code distinguishes manufactured/mobile homes from travel trailers and campers, and a second dwelling on a lot needs its own septic approval and larger minimum lot size; whether a tiny home or RV can be a full-time sole residence depends on the specific zoning district, not confirmed as a blanket rule.
Building permits & codes
Generally allowedThe Nez Perce County Planning and Building Department issues building permits and enforces building codes locally within Idaho's statewide building code framework. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedPublic Health, Idaho North Central District, issues septic permits for Nez Perce County under Idaho DEQ's statewide subsurface sewage rules, including required site evaluations and test holes. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNo Nez Perce County-specific greywater ordinance was found; it appears to fall under the same DEQ/health district septic permitting rather than a distinct rule, so confirm with the North Central Health District or Idaho DEQ. source
Rainwater harvesting
Unclear - verifyNo Nez Perce County or state ordinance addressing residential rainwater collection was found in the research; not confirmed either way.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedWell drilling and water rights in Nez Perce County follow Idaho Department of Water Resources statewide permitting; no distinct county well ordinance was found.
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo explicit ordinance addresses disconnecting from utilities, but zoning certificates, building permits, and septic permits together regulate off-grid setups indirectly; not confirmed as outright allowed or banned. source
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 4.4 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 1.9 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,242 kWh
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Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 12 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 11 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 5,169 (moderate)
- Frost-free season
- Apr 12 to Oct 23
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Tri-State Memorial Hospital - 3.1 mi
- Fire station
Lewiston Fire Department Station 4 - 2.8 mi
- Hardware store
Early Bird Supply - 3.0 mi
- Grocery
WinCo Foods - 3.9 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 99403).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Nez Perce County, ID?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.