Off-grid site report
Coffey County, KS
38.3018, -95.7258 · 1,171 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Coffey 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 rulesCoffey County, KS
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
RestrictedCoffey County has countywide zoning administered by its Zoning and Subdivision Administrator; zoning permits and special applications are required for land use and structures. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Varies locallyThe zoning code addresses manufactured/mobile homes and RV campers with specific location and design rules, and allows older mobile/manufactured homes as accessory farm dwellings under conditions. Whether a tiny house on wheels counts as an RV or a dwelling is not confirmed in official text. source
Building permits & codes
Unclear - verifyKansas sets no statewide building code, leaving this to the county; Coffey County's zoning regs reference building/electrical code compliance for some structures, but the adopted code and general permit process are not confirmed from official sources searched. source
Septic & composting toilets
RestrictedCoffey County Health Department enforces its own Sanitary Code (adopted 2011) and requires a Wastewater Treatment System Operational Use Permit and inspection fees, following KDHE Bulletin 4-2 design standards; composting toilets are not addressed. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNo Coffey County-specific greywater rule was found; it may fall under general wastewater discharge provisions in the county Sanitary Code, but this is not confirmed, so check with Environmental Health. source
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedNo Coffey County restriction was found, so household rainwater collection appears to inherit the Kansas state baseline domestic-use exemption under the Water Appropriation Act.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedPrivate wells are permitted, with Coffey County Environmental Health offering water testing and bundling well inspection into the septic/alternative system inspection fee; construction otherwise follows KDHE state standards. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo explicit Coffey County rule mandating utility hookup was found; the zoning code references a 'Sewer and Water Facilities' category but its substance is not confirmed from available text, so confirm directly with Planning & Zoning. source
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 5.1 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 3.8 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,462 kWh
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Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 38 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 10 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 5,069 (moderate)
- Frost-free season
- Apr 12 to Oct 23
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Coffey County Hospital - 6.9 mi
- Fire station
Coffey County Fire District 1 - Station 8 - 3.1 mi
- Hardware store
Osage Ace Hardware - 23.6 mi
- Grocery
Hoover's Grocery Store - 6.6 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 66839).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Coffey County, KS?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.