Off-grid site report
Wythe County, VA
36.9025, -81.2717 · 2,576 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Wythe County, VA, 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 rulesWythe County, VA
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Unclear - verifyUnincorporated Wythe County has no countywide zoning ordinance, per the county's Land Use Classification page, so raw land occupancy isn't restricted by zoning districts there. The towns of Wytheville and Rural Retreat are separately zoned, and a draft countywide ordinance is under Board of Supervisors review but not yet adopted.
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyNo official Wythe County ordinance on tiny homes or RVs as dwellings was confirmed; Virginia's Uniform Statewide Building Code sets the state baseline. Confirm specifics with the county Building Inspection Department since commercial sources made unverified claims. source
Building permits & codes
Generally allowedThe Wythe County Building Inspection Department enforces the state building code and requires septic/well permits be issued before approving a building permit. Small unplumbed, unwired storage buildings under a modest size need no permit.
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedThe Wythe County Environmental Health Department, under Virginia Department of Health authority, evaluates sites and issues septic and well permits, and this approval is required before a building permit is issued. source
Greywater reuse
Generally allowedNo Wythe County-specific greywater ordinance was found; the county defers to VDH's statewide greywater regulations administered through the local health department. source
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedRainwater harvesting is governed by VDH's statewide program, including permit and registration options, with no additional Wythe County restriction found. source
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedVDH permits private wells statewide, administered locally by the Wythe County Environmental Health Department, and since 2019 applications must include supporting work from a DPOR-licensed private consultant. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo Wythe County ordinance mandating grid electric hookup was confirmed, but septic/well approval is still required before a building permit is issued regardless of your electric setup.
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 4.9 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 3.4 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,337 kWh
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Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 38 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 21 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 5,578 (cold)
- Frost-free season
- May 6 to Oct 4
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Wythe County Community Hospital - 10.3 mi
- Fire station
Rural Retreat Volunteer Fire Department - 0.6 mi
- Hardware store
Harpo's Hardware - 0.3 mi
- Grocery
Food Country USA - 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 24368).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Wythe County, VA?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.