Off-grid site report
Orange County, FL
28.5143, -81.4610 · 125 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Orange County, FL, 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 rulesOrange County, FL
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
RestrictedOrange County's Chapter 38 Code of Ordinances allows temporary RV/mobile home occupancy in A-1, A-2, and A-R districts only during construction of a permanent home (after a building permit is pulled), with removal required afterward; a 100+ acre hunting camp exception allows indefinite RV/mobile home use. This is a county rule administered by PEDS. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
RestrictedThe county permits small dwellings mainly as accessory dwelling units tied to a primary home, with size caps set by county code; standalone tiny homes on wheels are treated as RVs and time-limited. This is set by Orange County zoning, not the state. source
Building permits & codes
Generally allowedFlorida Building Code is the technical standard statewide, but Orange County's Building Division issues permits and inspections locally, including for RVs/boats placed on residential lots outside licensed parks. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedSeptic permitting and inspection in Orange County is handled by the Florida Department of Health in Orange County, since the county did not transition to direct state DEP permitting; a 2025 rule change ties some repair permits on smaller lots to nitrogen-reducing system upgrades. source
Greywater reuse
RestrictedNo Orange County-specific greywater ordinance was found beyond the state Florida Building Code standard limiting reuse to toilet/urinal flushing through an approved system; not confirmed beyond that baseline.
Rainwater harvesting
Unclear - verifyNo Orange County ordinance specifically regulating residential rainwater cisterns for non-potable use was found; this mirrors ambiguity at the state level, so confirm with PEDS if you plan a large system.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedThe Florida Department of Health in Orange County issues well construction permits for wells under 6 inches in diameter, under delegation from the St. Johns River Water Management District; Orange is flagged as a delineated area with groundwater vulnerability, which may add requirements. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo explicit Orange County ordinance bans full utility disconnection, but any occupied dwelling still needs DOH-approved septic and water, and zoning time limits on RV/mobile home occupancy constrain indefinite raw-land living; not fully confirmed as a standalone rule. source
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 5.6 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 4.8 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,552 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 53 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 530 (mild)
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Bert Martin's Champions for Children Emergency Department & Trauma Center - 5.0 mi
- Fire station
Orlando Fire Department Station 12 - 0.8 mi
- Hardware store
Lowe's - 3.6 mi
- Grocery
Walmart Neighborhood Market - 3.1 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 32811).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Orange County, FL?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 21, 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.