Off-grid site report
Mathews County, VA
37.4370, -76.3242 · 26 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Mathews 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 rulesMathews County, VA
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
RestrictedMathews County has countywide zoning under its Zoning Ordinance (adopted 1987, amended through 2013), with RU and R-1 districts, plus a separate Wetlands Ordinance and Sand Dunes Ordinance for tidal/shoreline property administered by the county Wetlands Board alongside state and federal agencies. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyNo Mathews-specific rule on tiny homes, THOWs, or RV occupancy was found; the county Building Department enforces the statewide USBC (including Appendix Q), but confirm specifics with that office directly. source
Building permits & codes
Generally allowedThe Mathews County Building Department administers the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code and requires permits for most construction, plus enforces the county's Floodplain Management Ordinance tied to FEMA maps. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedA Health Department (VDH) permit is required before installing or repairing a septic system in Mathews County, and the county has a special 'Safe, Adequate & Proper' review tying septic status to building permit approval; VDH also directly enforces Chesapeake Bay pump-out compliance here. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNo Mathews-specific greywater ordinance was found; this defaults to the state VDH regulatory framework administered locally by the health department.
Rainwater harvesting
Unclear - verifyNo county-specific rainwater harvesting rule was found; the state VDH Division of Onsite Water and Wastewater Services program would apply by default. source
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedVDH approval of a well (or HRSD sewer connection where applicable) is required as part of Mathews County's building permit and inspection process; there's no separate county well ordinance beyond relying on the state program. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo Mathews County ordinance requiring connection to the electric grid was found, but VDH-approved well and septic sign-off is still required for occupancy regardless of electrical setup. source
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 5.0 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 3.6 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,433 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 48 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 3,859 (moderate)
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Riverside Walter Reed Hospital - 12.0 mi
- Fire station
Mathews Volunteer Fire Department Station 1 - 0.2 mi
- Hardware store
M & M Building Supply - 0.1 mi
- Grocery
Food Lion - 0.3 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 23109).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Mathews 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.