Off-grid site report
St. Johns County, FL
29.8707, -81.3238 · 16 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for St. Johns County, FL, 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 rulesSt. Johns County, FL
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
RestrictedUnincorporated St. Johns County has countywide zoning under its Land Development Code, administered by Planning and Zoning; special uses like mobile homes in residential districts need public-hearing approval. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
RestrictedPer the county's own FAQ, RVs and fifth wheels aren't permitted as living quarters outside a properly zoned campground/park; tiny/site-built homes must meet full Florida Building Code and permitting like any single-family home. source
Building permits & codes
Generally allowedThe County Building Department enforces the Florida Building Code (2023 8th Edition) and National Electric Code, requiring a Clearance Sheet before most permit applications proceed. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedSeptic (OSTDS) permitting in St. Johns County is still handled by the county Department of Health, since DEP's statewide takeover so far covers only a specific list of other counties. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNo county-specific greywater ordinance was found; it appears to default to the state's general restriction to toilet/urinal flushing reuse. Confirm with the county Building or Health Department.
Rainwater harvesting
Unclear - verifyNo official St. Johns County or SJRWMD page explicitly addresses residential rainwater catchment; non-potable use appears tolerated but unconfirmed locally.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedWell construction permitting for St. Johns County runs through the St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD), under authority delegated by Florida DEP; confirm whether small wells are instead handled by county DOH.
Living disconnected from utilities
RestrictedNo outright ban on disconnecting from utilities was found, but any occupied dwelling still needs an approved septic system and legal well permit, so full off-grid living without those approvals isn't a recognized legal path. source
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 5.4 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 4.5 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,500 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 49 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 0 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 919 (mild)
- Frost-free season
- Feb 5 to Dec 26
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Flagler Hospital - 0.6 mi
- Fire station
Saint Augustine Fire Department Station 1 - 1.5 mi
- Hardware store
The Home Depot - 0.2 mi
- Grocery
ALDI - 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 32086).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in St. Johns County, FL?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.