Off-grid site report
Mobile County, AL
30.6972, -88.1892 · 184 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Mobile County, AL, 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 rulesMobile County, AL
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Generally allowedNo zoning exists in unincorporated Mobile County, per the County Engineering Department. Inside any municipality (City of Mobile, Prichard, Saraland, etc.), that town's own zoning ordinance applies instead. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyNot confirmed at the county level for tiny homes or RVs specifically; a Mobile Home Checklist exists for manufactured homes. Confirm directly with Inspection Services. source
Building permits & codes
Generally allowedBuilding permits are required countywide in unincorporated areas under codes adopted by the Mobile County Commission (2012 IRC/IBC family, updated 2016). Enforced by County Inspection Services. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedSeptic systems are permitted and regulated by the Mobile County Health Department's Onsite Sewage division, following Alabama Department of Public Health rules. Installers must be state-licensed. source
Greywater reuse
RestrictedNo Mobile County-specific greywater rule found; this inherits the state ADPH greywater regulation, administered through the County Health Department's Onsite Sewage division.
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedNo Mobile County ordinance or state rule restricting residential rainwater harvesting was found in the research.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedWells are permitted; a licensed driller must file notification with the Mobile County Health Department, which inspects the well and reports to the state Water Well Standards Board. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Generally allowedNo Mobile County ordinance requiring connection to public water, sewer, or electric utilities was found for unincorporated areas; not confirmed for specific towns within the county.
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 5.2 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 4.1 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,462 kWh
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Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 66 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 0 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 1,694 (mild)
- Frost-free season
- Mar 2 to Nov 30
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
USA Health Providence Hospital - 1.4 mi
- Fire station
Mobile Fire Department - 1.7 mi
- Hardware store
Lowe's - 2.2 mi
- Grocery
Walmart Neighborhood Market - 1.4 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 36688).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Mobile County, AL?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.