Off-grid site report

Queens County, NY

40.7336, -73.7822 · 79 ft elevation

Read this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Queens County, NY, 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 rulesQueens County, NY

Zoning & raw-land occupancy

RestrictedQueens has no county planning body; the citywide NYC Zoning Resolution, administered by the Department of City Planning, governs every parcel through residential and other zoning districts. source

Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs

RestrictedNYC Construction Codes and the Zoning Resolution don't recognize RVs or wheeled tiny houses as legal permanent dwellings; small ancillary dwelling units are allowed only under specific, limited conditions. No Queens-specific exception is confirmed. source

Building permits & codes

RestrictedAny construction, alteration, or occupancy change requires a permit from the NYC Department of Buildings; Queens has a DOB borough office but follows the same citywide code as the rest of NYC. source

Septic & composting toilets

RestrictedQueens is almost entirely sewered, so on-site sewage systems are a rare exception requiring a permit and NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene review in place of a county health department. source

Greywater reuse

RestrictedGreywater reuse systems are legal but require a construction permit plus DOHMH review, commissioning, and sign-off under NYC Plumbing Code and Administrative Code rules; uses are limited mainly to irrigation or cooling tower makeup. source

Rainwater harvesting

Varies locallySmall rain barrels are permitted without a permit citywide, but larger rainwater collection and reuse systems must meet NYC Plumbing Code design and permitting requirements and generally stay on the same tax lot. source

Private wells & water rights

RestrictedUnlike upstate counties, NYC (including Queens) requires a DOHMH permit to drill, install, replace, or use any well, potable or non-potable, and wells must still meet NYS Residential Code construction standards. source

Living disconnected from utilities

RestrictedNo confirmed pathway exists for a legally occupied, permanently disconnected dwelling in Queens; the NYC Department of Buildings requires code-compliant water, waste, and electrical connections before issuing a Certificate of Occupancy. source

Open the full county page with sources →

Sun30-year normals

Peak-sun hours, annual average: 4.7 hrs/day
Worst month (sizes an off-grid array): 3.0 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels: 1,363 kWh

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Weather1991-2020

Precipitation: 45 in/yr
Snowfall: 27 in/yr
Heating degree days: 4,665 (moderate)
Frost-free season: Mar 31 to Nov 20

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital Cohen’s Children’s Medical Center: 4.1 mi
Fire station FDNY E326 L160: 1.7 mi
Hardware store Lowe's: 21.2 mi
Grocery: none within range

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 11365).

Size a solar system Heat loss & insulation Firewood per winter Rainwater harvest Garden size Panel tilt

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.