Off-grid site report
Jefferson County, KY
38.1437, -85.5849 · 673 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Jefferson County, KY, 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 rulesJefferson County, KY
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
RestrictedLouisville Metro (which merged with Jefferson County in 2003) has a full Land Development Code covering zoning and form districts, administered by the Office of Planning and Design Services. Twelve home-rule cities within the county can adopt their own zoning variations, so always confirm which jurisdiction applies to a given parcel. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyNo official Metro page specifically addresses tiny homes on wheels or long-term RV occupancy as a dwelling; standard residential zoning categories exist but don't answer this directly. Confirm with Planning and Design Services. source
Building permits & codes
RestrictedBuilding permits and inspections are required countywide under Louisville Metro's adoption of the Kentucky Building Code and Kentucky Residential Code; Jefferson County does not fall under the state's rural/unzoned exemption. The Office of Construction Review handles permitting. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedSeptic systems are permitted through the Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness, which requires systems to meet the state's onsite sewage rule (902 KAR 10:085). Composting toilets as a septic alternative are not addressed in official sources. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNo Jefferson County specific greywater ordinance was found; it appears to default to the state's onsite sewage rule framework referenced by LMPHW, but this is not confirmed locally.
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedNo official Louisville Metro restriction on non-potable rainwater collection was found, so the state baseline (generally permissive) appears to apply.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedNo Metro-specific well permit requirement was found, so the state baseline (certified driller, no special local permit) appears to apply; note that Louisville Water Company serves much of the county but that alone doesn't bar private wells.
Living disconnected from utilities
RestrictedLouisville Metro Public Health and Wellness Plan Review must confirm potable water and sewage disposal (via municipal connection or approved onsite system) before a building permit issues, so a habitable structure can't legally proceed without one of those two. Electrical grid disconnection specifically was not addressed in official sources. source
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 4.7 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 3.3 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,328 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 48 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 4,502 (moderate)
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Norton Audubon Hospital - 9.0 mi
- Fire station
Fern Creek Volunteer Fire Department - 2.4 mi
- Hardware store
Highview Hardware Store - 2.1 mi
- Grocery
Supermercado Guanajuato - 1.5 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 40291).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Jefferson County, KY?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.