Off-grid site report
Daviess County, KY
37.7550, -87.0614 · 407 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Daviess 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 rulesDaviess County, KY
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
RestrictedDaviess County has countywide zoning administered jointly with Owensboro and Whitesville through the Owensboro Metropolitan Planning Commission (OMPC), under Kentucky Revised Statutes Chapter 100. Every parcel has a zoning designation and permitted-use table; there's no unzoned land here. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyManufactured/mobile homes are addressed in the zoning code (including a dedicated mobile home park zone), but I found no specific Daviess County provision on tiny houses or long-term RV occupancy. Confirm directly with OMPC or Owensboro Planning & Zoning. source
Building permits & codes
RestrictedDaviess County has locally adopted the Kentucky Residential and Building Codes, so permits and inspections are required, unlike some rural KY counties that opt out under state law. Permits are issued through the Owensboro Planning & Zoning office. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedSeptic systems are allowed but require a site evaluation and permit from the Green River District Health Department before construction, following the state's standard process. No county-specific composting toilet exemption was found. source
Greywater reuse
Generally allowedNo Daviess County ordinance specifically addresses greywater separately from septic, so the state rule (902 KAR 10:085) is what applies. Confirm any local nuance with the health department.
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedNo county ordinance restricting rainwater collection for non-potable use was found, so the Kentucky state baseline, which is generally permissive, applies here.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedPrivate wells are allowed and follow the state's certified-driller rules; no county drilling permit was found. The Green River District Health Department offers voluntary well water testing for bacterial contamination. source
Living disconnected from utilities
RestrictedThere's no requirement to connect to electric service, but the county zoning code makes it unlawful to construct a dwelling without an approved water supply and an approved sewage disposal system (public or private septic), per Daviess County code and the health department. source
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 4.9 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 3.4 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,373 kWh
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Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 48 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 9 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 3,874 (moderate)
- Frost-free season
- Apr 7 to Oct 26
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Owensboro Health Regional Hospital - 1.7 mi
- Fire station
OFD - 3.7 mi
- Hardware store
Menards - 0.6 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 42303).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Daviess 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.