Off-grid site report
Union County, OR
45.2095, -117.8654 · 2,782 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Union 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 rulesUnion County, OR
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
RestrictedUnion County has countywide zoning via the Zoning, Partition, and Subdivision Ordinance (UCZPSO), administered by the Planning Department, which implements state planning goals locally. Allowed uses and dwelling rights depend on the parcel's zone. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyNo official county page specifies RV-as-dwelling rules or tiny-home standards; it's not confirmed whether the county opted into Oregon's SB 1013 RV-rental-dwelling program. Contact the Planning Department directly.
Building permits & codes
Generally allowedThe county's Building Division, part of Planning, issues permits and reviews construction under Oregon code for unincorporated land; some submissions go through the state ePermitting portal. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedSeptic permitting for Union County is administered under contract by Harney County's Environmental Health Program, though the Land Use Compatibility Statement must first be approved by Union County Planning. source
Greywater reuse
Generally allowedNo county-specific greywater ordinance was found; this defers to Oregon DEQ's statewide tiered greywater permit program. Not confirmed whether the Harney County septic contract adds local conditions.
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedNo county-specific rainwater rule was found; this follows the state exemption allowing roof-catchment collection without a water-rights permit.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedWells and water rights are handled entirely by the state Oregon Water Resources Department (OWRD), including exempt-use domestic well volume caps; no added county restriction was found. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Generally allowedNo county ordinance bans disconnecting from utilities, but a building permit and approved septic system (with proof of legal water source) are still required before occupying a dwelling. Any additional off-grid-specific restriction is not confirmed. source
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 4.8 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 2.0 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,306 kWh
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Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 28 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 92 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 6,949 (cold)
- Frost-free season
- May 2 to Oct 19
- Design low
- 5 °F
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Grande Ronde Hospital - 13.9 mi
- Fire station
La Grande Fire House - 13.3 mi
- Hardware store
Hometown Hardware, Espresso & Liquor - 0.1 mi
- Grocery
Union Market - 0.0 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 97883).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Union County, OR?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.