Off-grid site report

Ellsworth County, KS

38.8250, -98.4753 · 1,706 ft elevation

Read this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Ellsworth County, KS, 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 rulesEllsworth County, KS

Zoning & raw-land occupancy

Unclear - verifyNo unincorporated Ellsworth County zoning code or planning office was found. The City of Ellsworth has its own Planning Commission/Board of Zoning Appeals, but that only covers land inside city limits. Confirm unincorporated-area rules with the county commission. source

Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs

Unclear - verifyNo county or city ordinance specifically addressing tiny homes or RV occupancy was found. Ask the county directly before relying on this.

Building permits & codes

Varies locallyThe City of Ellsworth requires building permits within city limits, handled through its Planning & Zoning office. Whether unincorporated county land requires a building permit is not confirmed. source

Septic & composting toilets

RestrictedEllsworth County has its own Sanitary Code, administered by Saline County Environmental Health (which also covers Lincoln and Ottawa counties), layered on top of KDHE's statewide Bulletin 4-2 minimum standards for onsite wastewater systems. source

Greywater reuse

Unclear - verifyNo Ellsworth-specific greywater rule was found; it likely falls under the same sanitary code process Saline County Environmental Health administers, but that is not explicitly confirmed. source

Rainwater harvesting

Generally allowedNo county or city restriction was found, so the state's general allowance for domestic-use rainwater collection applies.

Private wells & water rights

Generally allowedPrivate wells are permitted under Kansas's statewide well construction standards. Most of unincorporated Ellsworth County outside the City of Ellsworth is also served by Rural Water District No. 1 (Post Rock), a county-formed rural water utility, as an alternative.

Living disconnected from utilities

Unclear - verifyNo ordinance requiring connection to public water, sewer, or electric was found at the county or city level, but this has not been independently confirmed for unincorporated areas.

Open the full county page with sources →

Sun30-year normals

Peak-sun hours, annual average: 5.5 hrs/day
Worst month (sizes an off-grid array): 4.3 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels: 1,567 kWh

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Weather1991-2020

Precipitation: 26 in/yr
Snowfall: 14 in/yr
Heating degree days: 5,194 (moderate)
Frost-free season: Apr 20 to Oct 18

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital Ellsworth County Medical Center: 14.9 mi
Fire station Wilson Fire Department: 0.1 mi
Hardware store True Value: 14.7 mi
Grocery Wilson Family Foods: 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 67490).

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.