Off-grid site report
Bay County, FL
30.1747, -85.6842 · 43 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Bay 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 rulesBay County, FL
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
RestrictedBay County Planning and Zoning Division reviews unincorporated development against the county's Land Development Regulations, which include wetlands, tree, and watershed protections that can limit land use. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Varies locallyBay County's Building Safety Division enforces state anchoring standards for manufactured/mobile homes; no county-specific minimum size for site-built tiny homes was confirmed, so ask Building Safety directly. source
Building permits & codes
RestrictedUnincorporated Bay County uses the Florida Building Code (8th Ed., 2023) with local amendments, permits issued via the county's CityView portal; a limited owner-project exemption (HB 803) is set to take effect mid-2026 per county guidance. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedSeptic (OSTDS) permitting authority moved from the Bay County Health Department to the Florida DEP effective January 2025; composting toilets are not separately addressed and likely fall under the same DEP framework. source
Greywater reuse
RestrictedNo Bay County-specific greywater ordinance was found; the statewide Florida Building Code rule limiting reuse to toilet/urinal flushing appears to be the operating baseline.
Rainwater harvesting
Unclear - verifyNo county or state rule specifically addressing residential rainwater cisterns was found; not confirmed, so ask Bay County Planning and Zoning directly.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedWells are regulated by the Northwest Florida Water Management District, not the county; Bay County qualifies for a streamlined general permit for smaller systems. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo explicit Bay County ordinance bans or permits full off-grid utility disconnection, but any occupied dwelling still needs a DEP-approved sewage method and legal water source, and any permitted structure must meet Florida Building Code standards.
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 5.5 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 4.4 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,561 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 57 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 1,285 (mild)
- Frost-free season
- Feb 6 to Dec 17
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Sacred Heart Hospital on the Gulf - 36.2 mi
- Fire station
Panama City Fire Prevention - 2.2 mi
- Hardware store
Home Outlet - 0.1 mi
- Grocery
Piggly Wiggly - 0.2 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 32405).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Bay 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.