Off-grid site report
Preble County, OH
39.6296, -84.5570Read this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Preble County, OH, 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 rulesPreble County, OH
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Varies locallyPreble County has a countywide rural zoning resolution administered by the Office of Land Use Management, adopted individually by most townships, but incorporated villages and cities like Eaton, West Alexandria, and New Paris may set their own separate zoning. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Varies locallyOhio state law (ORC 519.212) requires permanently sited manufactured homes to meet the same zoning standards as site-built homes, but townships can prohibit travel trailers, park trailers, and non-permanent manufactured homes from residential districts. Manufactured homes must be registered with the County Auditor. source
Building permits & codes
Generally allowedThe Preble County Office of Land Use Management enforces the Residential Code of Ohio and issues building permits; specific fees and forms should be confirmed directly with that office. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedSeptic and plumbing permits go through Preble County Public Health's Environmental Health division under the state's OAC 3701-29 framework; composting toilets are not separately addressed in the sources found. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyPreble County Public Health's environmental health page covers plumbing and sewage generally but doesn't spell out greywater system rules; this is not confirmed and likely falls under state OAC 3701-29 baseline handled by the same office. source
Rainwater harvesting
Unclear - verifyNo county-specific rainwater or cistern policy was found; this appears to default to Ohio's general private water system rules, not confirmed at the county level.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedPreble County Public Health requires a permit before installing or altering a private water system serving fewer than 25 people a day, and provides siting guidance such as separation distances from waste systems. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo Preble County source was found requiring connection to electric, water, or sewer utilities, but any habitable structure still must meet building code and applicable plumbing/sewage permitting.
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 4.6 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 2.6 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,314 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 41 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 5,858 (cold)
- Frost-free season
- Apr 22 to Oct 17
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Atrium Medical Center - 15.8 mi
- Fire station
Fire Station 63 - 9.8 mi
- Hardware store
Wilson Hardware Co. - 8.9 mi
- Grocery
Kroger - 10.3 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 45330).
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.