Off-grid site report

Lowndes County, MS

33.5187, -88.4364 · 174 ft elevation

Read this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Lowndes County, MS, 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 rulesLowndes County, MS

Zoning & raw-land occupancy

Varies locallyLowndes County is a zoned county, meaning the Planning Department enforces land use and setback rules countywide, unlike unzoned rural MS counties. District-by-district rules on raw-land occupancy were not confirmed in official sources. source

Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs

RestrictedADUs require a building permit, a permanent foundation, and must be in a residential district per the county. Tiny-home-on-wheels and full-time RV occupancy rules are not confirmed on the county's official site, so ask Planning directly.

Building permits & codes

RestrictedLowndes County requires a building permit before any construction begins, and participates in the National Flood Insurance Program, which layers floodplain rules on top of standard permitting. source

Septic & composting toilets

Generally allowedSeptic and composting systems are regulated by the Mississippi State Department of Health, which lists Lowndes County among counties it administers under its on-site wastewater program; a soil/site evaluation from MSDH is required. source

Greywater reuse

RestrictedNo county or state page specifically addresses standalone greywater reuse separate from full septic disposal; it appears to fall under the same MSDH wastewater framework, so confirm with MSDH before setting one up. source

Rainwater harvesting

Generally allowedNo Lowndes County restriction on rain barrels or cisterns was found, so the state's generally permissive approach applies by default.

Private wells & water rights

Generally allowedPrivate wells are regulated by the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, which requires a state-licensed well contractor; MDEQ maintains a specific Lowndes County well schedule, and domestic wells are generally exempt from withdrawal permitting. source

Living disconnected from utilities

RestrictedNo Lowndes County ordinance requiring grid hookup for occupancy was found; the Mississippi Public Service Commission only tracks utility service areas, but full off-grid disconnection carries the same general state-level caution seen elsewhere. source

Open the full county page with sources →

Sun30-year normals

Peak-sun hours, annual average: 5.2 hrs/day
Worst month (sizes an off-grid array): 3.7 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels: 1,447 kWh

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Weather1991-2020

Precipitation: 56 in/yr
Snowfall: 0 in/yr
Heating degree days: 2,642 (mild)
Frost-free season: Mar 25 to Nov 8

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle: 0.7 mi
Fire station: none within range
Hardware store Harbor Freight Tools: 0.3 mi
Grocery Kroger: 0.1 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 39710).

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 22, 2026; agencies update their layers on their own schedules. Planning data, not a survey or legal advice.