Off-grid site report
Clay County, FL
30.1066, -81.8315 · 39 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Clay County, FL, 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 rulesClay County, FL
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
RestrictedUnincorporated Clay County has a full Land Development Code administered by the Zoning Section; raw land must be zoned and comply with use tables before you can occupy it with a dwelling. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
RestrictedThe county explicitly states you cannot live in an RV as a primary residence, weekend home, or rental; a temporary exception exists only during active construction under a building permit with time limits. Mobile homes outside parks must meet single-family standards with wheels removed.
Building permits & codes
RestrictedClay County requires building permits under the Florida Building Code (8th Edition) and 2020 NEC, with owner-builder permits allowed; plan review requires site plans, septic letters, and energy calculations. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedSeptic (OSTDS) permits are issued and inspected by the Florida Department of Health in Clay County under a statewide framework now overseen by Florida DEP since 2021. source
Greywater reuse
RestrictedNo Clay County-specific greywater ordinance was found; the state Florida Building Code baseline, which limits reuse mainly to toilet/urinal flushing, appears to apply.
Rainwater harvesting
Unclear - verifyNo official Clay County page addresses residential rainwater harvesting; this is not confirmed at the county level, so confirm with the Building Division before connecting any system to household plumbing.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedThe Florida Department of Health in Clay County has delegated authority from the St. Johns River Water Management District to issue well construction permits under Chapter 40C-3, F.A.C. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo explicit county ban on disconnecting from utilities was found, but occupancy of a legal dwelling still requires an approved septic system and standard building permitting, which practically constrains a fully off-grid setup; not confirmed as a distinct rule.
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 5.3 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 4.3 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,472 kWh
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Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 52 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 0 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 1,421 (mild)
- Frost-free season
- Mar 6 to Nov 29
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
HCA Florida Orange Park Hospital - 6.9 mi
- Fire station
Clay Fire Station 18 - 7.1 mi
- Hardware store
Lowe's - 6.6 mi
- Grocery
ALDI - 0.5 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 32068).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Clay County, FL?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 21, 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.