Off-grid site report
Morrow County, OR
45.8526, -119.6720 · 269 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Morrow County, OR, 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 rulesMorrow County, OR
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Varies locallyMorrow County has countywide zoning administered by the Planning Department, but specific zone-by-zone standards (parcel size, dwelling density) weren't confirmed from the actual ordinance text. Boardman and Irrigon are separate cities with their own rules. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyOregon's statewide RV-dwelling statute sets a baseline, but whether Morrow County has its own tiny-home or RV siting rules wasn't confirmed on an official county page; ask Planning directly. source
Building permits & codes
Generally allowedMorrow County Building Department issues residential/commercial building permits (except electrical, which goes through the state) everywhere except within Boardman and Irrigon city limits, which have their own building departments. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedAs of 2019, onsite septic permitting in Morrow County was transferred from Oregon DEQ to Umatilla County Health, which handles evaluations, permits, and inspections; DEQ keeps authority only over high-strength or high-flow systems. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNo Morrow County-specific greywater rule was found; the state DEQ tiered greywater permit program is the likely applicable framework, with UCo Health as the probable local contact.
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedNo Morrow County-specific restriction was found; the state baseline exempts rooftop rainwater collection into a tank from water-rights permitting.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedWell construction is governed statewide by Oregon Water Resources Department, but much of Morrow County lies within a designated groundwater management area with known nitrate contamination, addressed by a joint county Drinking Water Roadmap Project. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Generally allowedNo county ordinance bans off-grid electrical living, but the building permit process requires proof of an approved sewage disposal method, making that a practical prerequisite. source
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 4.9 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 1.7 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,395 kWh
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Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 9 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 4 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 4,985 (moderate)
- Frost-free season
- Apr 18 to Oct 15
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Good Shepherd Medical Center - 17.5 mi
- Fire station
Boardman Fire Department - 2.4 mi
- Hardware store
The Home Depot - 18.2 mi
- Grocery
Tienda El Sol - 1.7 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 97818).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Morrow County, OR?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.