Off-grid site report

Herkimer County, NY

43.0961, -75.0981 · 597 ft elevation

Read this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Herkimer County, NY, 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 rulesHerkimer County, NY

Zoning & raw-land occupancy

Varies locallyHerkimer County has no countywide zoning ordinance; each town (e.g., Litchfield) adopts its own local zoning law with its own lot-size and frontage rules, so status depends entirely on the town. source

Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs

Unclear - verifyNo countywide standard for manufactured homes, tiny houses, or RVs was found; these are addressed in town-level codes, and likely fall back to NYS's general treatment of RVs as non-permanent dwellings unless a town law says otherwise. source

Building permits & codes

RestrictedBuilding permits are administered by individual town code enforcement offices under the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code, coordinated in part with county 911 addressing. source

Septic & composting toilets

RestrictedNo county-specific septic ordinance was found; Herkimer County Public Health directs septic and water-quality matters to the New York State Department of Health's Environmental Unit, which sets the operative standards. source

Greywater reuse

Unclear - verifyNo Herkimer County or town greywater ordinance was found; this likely inherits the New York State baseline, which addresses greywater but is restrictive in practice. Confirm with your town code office.

Rainwater harvesting

Generally allowedNo Herkimer County rule restricts rainwater harvesting; it appears to follow the New York State baseline, which generally permits it subject to state storage and setback guidance.

Private wells & water rights

Generally allowedWells are regulated under New York State DEC well-contractor registration requirements, with Herkimer County's Public Health Department serving as the local health department that can approve deviations from state standards. source

Living disconnected from utilities

Varies locallyThere is no countywide requirement to connect to grid electric, water, or sewer; this is determined by each town's own code, so you must check locally.

Open the full county page with sources →

Sun30-year normals

Peak-sun hours, annual average: 4.2 hrs/day
Worst month (sizes an off-grid array): 2.1 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels: 1,173 kWh

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Weather1991-2020

Precipitation: 45 in/yr
Heating degree days: 7,641 (severe)
Frost-free season: May 7 to Oct 2

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital Wynn Hospital: 7.0 mi
Fire station Frankfort Fire Department: 4.2 mi
Hardware store Lowe's: 6.7 mi
Grocery ALDI: 5.7 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 13340).

Size a solar system Heat loss & insulation Firewood per winter Rainwater harvest Garden size Panel tilt

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.