Off-grid site report

Coos County, OR

43.3679, -124.2175 · 16 ft elevation

Read this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Coos County, OR, 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 rulesCoos County, OR

Zoning & raw-land occupancy

Varies locallyCoos County has countywide zoning under the CCZLDO, administered by the Community Development Department; Rural Residential zones (RR-5, RR-2) may or may not allow a dwelling on a given parcel, so you must check the zone map first. source

Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs

RestrictedThe county regulates manufactured, mobile, and conventional dwellings by zone; standalone RVs as permanent dwellings and RV parks require conditional-use review, and ADUs are allowed only at county discretion under state SB 391. City rules (e.g., Coos Bay) differ and are stricter for RVs/tiny homes. source

Building permits & codes

RestrictedCoos County's Building Department issues structural, plumbing, electrical, and mechanical permits countywide (except in a few cities that run their own programs), and any occupied structure requires a permit. source

Septic & composting toilets

Generally allowedThe county's Onsite Septic Program handles permitting and inspections locally under Oregon DEQ's statewide rules; site conditions like poor soil or high groundwater can require advanced systems. Composting toilet rules are not confirmed, ask the county program directly. source

Greywater reuse

Unclear - verifyNo Coos County-specific greywater ordinance was found; the state's DEQ tiered permit program is the applicable baseline. Not confirmed whether the county adds anything locally, ask the county's DEQ referral office. source

Rainwater harvesting

Unclear - verifyNo county-specific rainwater ordinance was found. Oregon's state baseline exempts rooftop catchment into a tank from water-rights permitting, but any local building-code tie-in for storage tanks is not confirmed.

Private wells & water rights

Generally allowedWell construction and water rights are regulated by the state Oregon Water Resources Department, not the county; the county has no local law regulating private water safety, though Coos Health & Wellness offers voluntary water testing. source

Living disconnected from utilities

Generally allowedNothing in county materials prohibits living disconnected from utilities, but any dwelling still needs a building permit and an approved septic/wastewater system per the county's Planning Program. source

Open the full county page with sources →

Sun30-year normals

Peak-sun hours, annual average: 4.2 hrs/day
Worst month (sizes an off-grid array): 2.3 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels: 1,229 kWh

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Weather1991-2020

Precipitation: 65 in/yr
Snowfall: 0 in/yr
Heating degree days: 4,827 (moderate)
Frost-free season: Feb 27 to Dec 5

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital Bay Area Hospital: 1.3 mi
Fire station Coos Bay Fire Station #1: 0.2 mi
Hardware store Farr's True Value Hardware: 0.6 mi
Grocery McKay's Market: 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 97459).

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 21, 2026; agencies update their layers on their own schedules. Planning data, not a survey or legal advice.