Off-grid site report
Monroe County, IN
39.1435, -86.5791Read this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Monroe County, IN, 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 rulesMonroe County, IN
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Varies locallyMonroe County Planning Department administers countywide zoning outside Bloomington/Ellettsville under a newly adopted County Development Ordinance (effective Dec. 18, 2024). Specific allowances depend on your parcel's zoning district, so confirm with Planning or GIS. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyWhether tiny homes on wheels or RVs qualify as permanent dwellings isn't addressed in official sources reviewed; new state-driven Class 2 structure rules (effective 2026) apply to conventional homes and ADUs. source
Building permits & codes
RestrictedBuilding permits for new homes and similar Class 2 structures now require an Improvement Location Permit from the Planning Department before applying to the Building Department, per state law IC 36-7-2.5 effective Jan. 1, 2026. source
Septic & composting toilets
RestrictedThe Monroe County Health Department's Wastewater Section requires a septic permit and typically a soil evaluation by an IRSS-registered soil scientist, implementing the state's onsite sewage rule locally. Composting toilets as a sole system aren't addressed. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNo county-specific greywater ordinance or health department guidance was found; not confirmed either way, so ask the Health Department's Wastewater Section directly.
Rainwater harvesting
Unclear - verifyNo Monroe County ordinance or restriction on rainwater catchment was found in official sources; not confirmed as regulated at all.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedPrivate wells remain a legal option outside water utility service areas, but well construction is regulated by the state (Indiana DNR), not the county. Large parts of the county are inside utility service territories like City of Bloomington Utilities or East Monroe Water Corp. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo official source confirms a mandatory-hookup ordinance for rural properties near existing water lines; this should be verified with the county Building or Health Department for a specific parcel. source
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 4.7 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 2.8 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,348 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 48 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 5,265 (moderate)
- Frost-free season
- Apr 19 to Oct 16
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Monroe Hospital - 1.6 mi
- Fire station
Bloomington Fire Dept - 1.6 mi
- Hardware store
Menards - 1.1 mi
- Grocery
Walmart Supercenter - 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 47403).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Monroe County, IN?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 22, 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.