Off-grid site report

Hood River County, OR

45.7088, -121.5124 · 115 ft elevation

Read this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Hood River 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 rulesHood River County, OR

Zoning & raw-land occupancy

RestrictedHood River County Community Development administers countywide zoning with EFU, Forest, Residential, Rural Residential, and Rural Center zones; EFU land is specifically protected for agricultural use. Land inside Hood River city limits/UGB falls under the City's Planning Department instead. source

Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs

Varies locallyTiny homes on permanent foundations can qualify as dwellings with a county building permit; RVs as long-term dwellings under SB 1013 were still under county debate as of the reviewed planning documents, so this is not settled. Confirm current status with Hood River County Community Development. source

Building permits & codes

Generally allowedPermits are required and follow Oregon's statewide specialty codes; the City of Hood River issues in-city building permits while the county handles plumbing and electrical permits everywhere, and full building permitting outside city limits. source

Septic & composting toilets

Generally allowedHood River County Environmental Health is DEQ's contracted local agent for septic permitting, site evaluation, and inspection for systems under the state's volume threshold; composting toilets as a sole system are not confirmed and should be checked with the department. source

Greywater reuse

Unclear - verifyNo county-specific greywater ordinance was found; the state DEQ tiered greywater permit program likely applies by default, but local administration is not confirmed. Ask Hood River County Environmental Health.

Rainwater harvesting

Generally allowedNo county ordinance restricting roof-based rainwater collection was found; general county drainage-law guidance addresses runoff onto neighboring land, not rainwater harvesting itself. source

Private wells & water rights

Generally allowedPrivate wells fall under Oregon Water Resources Department construction standards; the county's groundwater monitoring program is voluntary, not a permitting requirement. Water rights can overlap with Farmers Irrigation District mapped rights in some areas. source

Living disconnected from utilities

Unclear - verifyNo standalone ordinance bans off-grid utility disconnection, but building permits practically require an approved water supply and waste disposal method administered through Community Development and Environmental Health. source

Open the full county page with sources →

Sun30-year normals

Peak-sun hours, annual average: 4.5 hrs/day
Worst month (sizes an off-grid array): 1.8 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels: 1,267 kWh

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Weather1991-2020

Precipitation: 31 in/yr
Snowfall: 24 in/yr
Heating degree days: 5,352 (moderate)
Frost-free season: Apr 24 to Oct 8

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital: 0.6 mi
Fire station West Side Fire Department: 1.8 mi
Hardware store Tum-A-Lum Lumber: 0.4 mi
Grocery Safeway: 1.1 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 97031).

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.