Off-grid site report
Monongalia County, WV
39.6442, -79.9964 · 1,204 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Monongalia County, WV, 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 rulesMonongalia County, WV
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Varies locallyMonongalia County has no countywide zoning ordinance; only the West Run Planning District is zoned, per the County Commission and Planning Commission. Outside West Run, county zoning does not restrict raw-land occupancy, though floodplain rules can still apply. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyNo official county page confirms rules for tiny homes or RVs outside West Run; within West Run a Land Use Permit and Planning Commission review are required for construction or change of use. Treat countywide dwelling rules as not confirmed and ask the Planning Office directly. source
Building permits & codes
Varies locallyWest Virginia has a State Building Code (Title 87 Series 4), but Monongalia County itself does not enforce a building code locally, per the Planning Commission's FAQ. The City of Morgantown enforces its own separate building code within city limits. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedSeptic systems are permitted and administered locally through the Monongalia County Health Department's Environmental Health division; the county is also handled differently under the state's Home Aeration Unit permit program, running through the local office. source
Greywater reuse
RestrictedNo county-specific greywater rule was found; greywater appears to fall under the state Bureau for Public Health's sewage design standards, with questions directed to the same Health Department Environmental Health division.
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedNo Monongalia County ordinance addresses rainwater harvesting, so it appears to follow the state's generally unregulated baseline; not confirmed to differ locally.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedPrivate wells are permitted statewide with a permit required from the Local Health Department (here, the Monongalia County Health Department) before drilling, and drilling must be done by a licensed well driller.
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyWater and sewer service comes from Public Service Districts or the Morgantown Utility Board only in certain areas; no explicit county policy on mandatory hookup or exemption was found, so living off the utility grid outside those service areas is not clearly addressed either way. source
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 4.4 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 2.6 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,205 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 43 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 5,395 (moderate)
- Frost-free season
- Apr 25 to Oct 21
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Ruby Memorial Hospital - 2.1 mi
- Fire station
Granville Volunteer Fire Department - 0.6 mi
- Hardware store
Harbor Freight Tools - 0.5 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 26534).
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 22, 2026; agencies update their layers on their own schedules. Planning data, not a survey or legal advice.