Off-grid site report

Bedford County, PA

40.0187, -78.5039 · 1,109 ft elevation
Read this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Bedford County, PA, 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 rulesBedford County, PA

Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Varies locallyBedford County has no countywide zoning ordinance. Whether zoning applies to your parcel depends entirely on your specific township or borough; some have zoning, many have only a subdivision (SALDO) ordinance or nothing at all, per the county Planning Department's own municipal chart. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyNo Bedford County-wide rule on tiny homes or RVs as dwellings was found; where local zoning exists (e.g., Bedford Borough) dwelling use can be restricted by district. Confirm with your specific township or borough.
Building permits & codes
RestrictedBuilding permits are not issued by Bedford County; they're handled through the PA Municipal Code Alliance under the state Uniform Construction Code, plus any additional township land-development ordinance. source
Septic & composting toilets
RestrictedPennsylvania's Act 537 requires a certified Sewage Enforcement Officer to issue on-lot sewage permits; in Bedford County most municipalities contract this to the Bedford County Township and Borough Sanitary Corporation. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNo Bedford County or municipal rule on greywater was found; state rules generally treat greywater as sewage requiring an approved system, so this is not confirmed locally.
Rainwater harvesting
Unclear - verifyNo official Bedford County or municipal source addressing residential rainwater harvesting was found; not confirmed either way.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedPennsylvania does not require a state well-drilling permit and no separate Bedford County well permit was found; the Conservation District's erosion/sediment authority may touch well-site disturbance but isn't a well permitting program.
Living disconnected from utilities
Varies locallyNo countywide policy on off-grid utility disconnection exists; since occupancy approval runs through your municipality, this depends on your specific township or borough's building and zoning rules, if any. source

Open the full county page with sources →

Sun30-year normals

Peak-sun hours, annual average
4.4 hrs/day
Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
2.7 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
1,232 kWh
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Weather1991-2020

Precipitation
40 in/yr
Snowfall
34 in/yr
Heating degree days
6,074 (cold)
Frost-free season
Apr 20 to Oct 28
Design low
2 °F

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital
UPMC Bedford
3.8 mi
Fire station
Bedford County Fire Company 31
0.2 mi
Hardware store
Ace Hardware
0.7 mi
Grocery
Giant Eagle
0.5 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 15522).

Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt

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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.