Off-grid site report
Spencer County, KY
38.0338, -85.3407 · 502 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Spencer County, KY, 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 rulesSpencer County, KY
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Varies locallySpencer County has adopted countywide zoning administered jointly with the City of Taylorsville through the Joint Planning and Zoning Commission under KRS Chapter 100. Raw land use is governed by district use tables, not left open. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Varies locallyResidential districts set minimum lot sizes tied to sewer service (smaller lots on public sewer, one acre on septic), and there's a manufactured-housing district, but tiny-house and RV-as-residence rules are not confirmed. Verify with Planning & Zoning. source
Building permits & codes
RestrictedBuilding permits are required through the Taylorsville-Spencer County Joint Planning and Zoning Commission's enforcement office, since the county has adopted zoning countywide. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedSeptic systems are governed by Kentucky state regulation (902 KAR Chapter 10), with permitting and inspection delegated to the North Central District Health Department for Spencer County. Composting toilets aren't separately addressed, so the state's permitted baseline applies. source
Greywater reuse
Generally allowedNo Spencer County-specific ordinance was found; the state baseline under 902 KAR 10:085 applies. Not confirmed whether NCDHD adds any local supplement, so it's worth a call.
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedNo county ordinance or health department restriction on non-potable rainwater collection was found; the permissive state baseline controls.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedKentucky does not require a permit or fee for a homeowner to drill or abandon a well, though work must be done by a state-certified driller. About a fifth of unserved Spencer County households already use private wells. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo explicit Spencer County ordinance requiring grid power or municipal water/sewer connection was found, but subdivision lot-size rules tied to sewer type could indirectly affect off-grid setups. Confirm directly with Planning & Zoning. source
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 4.8 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 3.2 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,352 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 47 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 12 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 5,183 (moderate)
- Frost-free season
- Apr 29 to Oct 9
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
UofL Health - Shelbyville Hospital - 13.4 mi
- Fire station
Shelbyville Fire Station - 12.2 mi
- Hardware store
Harbor Freight Tools - 13.4 mi
- Grocery
Country Mart - 0.8 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 40071).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Spencer County, KY?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.