Off-grid site report

Chemung County, NY

42.0084, -76.6237 · 866 ft elevation

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

Zoning & raw-land occupancy

Varies locallyChemung County has no countywide zoning ordinance; each town (e.g., Town of Chemung, Town of Southport) sets its own zoning code, and the County Planning Board only advises and reviews referred actions under state law. source

Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs

RestrictedDwelling, tiny home, and RV rules are set by individual towns; the Town of Chemung's code, for example, treats any ground-placed structure as a dwelling and restricts tent residency without Town Board permit. Mobile home parks with 5+ lots need a county Health Department permit under NYS Sanitary Code Part 17. source

Building permits & codes

RestrictedBuilding permits are issued and enforced by each town's code enforcement officer applying International and NYS Building Codes; there is no county building department. source

Septic & composting toilets

RestrictedThe Chemung County Health Department requires a Construction Permit for any wastewater treatment system (with a homeowner self-install exemption form available), permits aerobic treatment units under state and county sanitary code conditions, prohibits surface discharge of effluent, and has a policy against new winter septic construction except for failed systems. source

Greywater reuse

Unclear - verifyNo Chemung County-specific greywater rule was found; the county's sewage pages cover septic/STS permitting only. Ask the Chemung County Health Department to confirm, and assume the NYS baseline applies otherwise.

Rainwater harvesting

Unclear - verifyNo county ordinance on rainwater harvesting was found; the NYS baseline (generally permitted for non-potable use) likely applies, but this isn't confirmed at the county level.

Private wells & water rights

Generally allowedNo county-issued well construction permit was found; the Health Department's Environmental Health Services team provides guidance, disinfection fact sheets, and defers to NYSDOH private well standards. source

Living disconnected from utilities

Varies locallyNo countywide rule forces utility hookup, but the county Sanitary Code treats public water as 'accessible' within 500 feet of a premises, which can trigger connection requirements in some town-level subdivision or sanitary reviews. source

Open the full county page with sources →

Sun30-year normals

Peak-sun hours, annual average: 4.2 hrs/day
Worst month (sizes an off-grid array): 2.6 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels: 1,175 kWh

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Weather1991-2020

Precipitation: 39 in/yr
Snowfall: 43 in/yr
Heating degree days: 6,701 (cold)
Frost-free season: Apr 28 to Oct 26
Design low: -3 °F

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital Guthrie Robert Packer Hospital: 5.6 mi
Fire station Athens Township Fire Department: 5.2 mi
Hardware store Lowe's: 4.5 mi
Grocery Ted Clark's Busy Market: 4.0 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 14825).

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.