Off-grid site report
Payette County, ID
44.0159, -116.9207 · 2,215 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Payette 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 rulesPayette County, ID
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
RestrictedPayette County has adopted its own countywide zoning code (Title 8), administered by the Planning & Zoning Commission; the three incorporated cities administer separate zoning within their limits and Areas of Impact. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
RestrictedPermanent RV residency outside a licensed RV park is not treated as an allowed dwelling; the county requires a Conditional Use Permit even for temporary RV occupancy while building. Tiny home/ADU size limits are not confirmed on the county's own site. source
Building permits & codes
RestrictedThe Payette County Building Department issues building permits locally and requires a septic permit before any building permit, even for accessory structures without bathrooms; electrical, plumbing, and most mechanical permits are issued by the state through DOPL. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedSeptic systems are permitted through Southwest District Health under statewide DEQ rules (IDAPA 58.01.03), including a required on-site evaluation and test hole; composting toilet specifics are not confirmed, so ask SWDH. source
Greywater reuse
RestrictedNo Payette County-specific greywater ordinance was found; greywater falls under the same SWDH/state DEQ subsurface sewage permitting framework as septic. source
Rainwater harvesting
Unclear - verifyNo Payette County or Southwest District Health page addressing residential rainwater harvesting was found; this is not confirmed either way.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedWells and water rights are administered statewide by the Idaho Department of Water Resources; no Payette County-specific well ordinance was found.
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyThere is no explicit Payette County rule on living off the electric grid or without piped water; the closest lever is that a septic permit must be secured before any building permit is issued. source
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 5.2 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 2.4 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,458 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 10 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 10 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 6,002 (cold)
- Frost-free season
- May 3 to Oct 2
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
St. Luke's Fruitland Medical Plaza - 0.7 mi
- Fire station
Payette Fire Dept. - 4.5 mi
- Hardware store
Franklin Building Supply - 0.5 mi
- Grocery
Waremart by WinCo - 1.2 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 83619).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Payette 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.