Off-grid site report
Madison County, KY
37.6097, -84.3087 · 974 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Madison County, KY, 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 rulesMadison County, KY
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
RestrictedUnlike many rural Kentucky counties, unincorporated Madison County has its own countywide zoning map and land-use ordinance administered by the Madison County Regional Planning Commission, and the Fiscal Court has adopted a rule limiting a single tract to two dwellings. You'll need to check your parcel's zoning classification with the Planning office before assuming you can just build or live on raw land, and Richmond and Berea have their own separate rules inside city limits. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
RestrictedManufactured/mobile homes have specific siting standards added to the county's land-use regulations, and standard homes and tiny houses on a foundation fall under the adopted state residential building code. I could not confirm how the county treats long-term RV living as a permanent residence, so ask the Planning office directly about that. source
Building permits & codes
RestrictedMadison County has adopted the Kentucky Residential Code and Kentucky Building Code, and permits are required for construction, alteration, and occupancy in the unincorporated county through the Planning and Development Commission office. Richmond and Berea run their own separate building departments, so confirm which authority covers your address. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedSeptic systems are allowed but require a site/soil evaluation and a sewage permit through the Madison County Health Department's Environmental office before you build or move a home onto a lot. Installation generally must be done by a certified installer, though owners can apply for a homeowner's permit to install their own system. Composting toilets are not specifically addressed in the county's published rules, so I'd call the Health Department to ask about that as an alternative. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyI could not find a Madison County-specific greywater ordinance or guidance page. The state framework likely applies as administered through the same Health Department Environmental office that handles septic, so that's who to call to ask before setting one up. source
Rainwater harvesting
Unclear - verifyNo county ordinance or Health Department page specifically addressing rainwater collection for non-potable use was found, so this looks unrestricted in practice. If you ever want to tie harvested water into interior plumbing, that would trigger the standard plumbing permit process through the Health Department, so check with them first.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedPrivate wells are allowed but require a Well Construction Authorization Permit from the Madison County Health Department, with defined setbacks from structures and septic systems. The Health Department is explicit the permit doesn't guarantee water quality or yield, only that it verifies contamination sources and setbacks are addressed. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyI did not find an explicit Madison County ordinance forcing you to hook up to grid power or municipal water/sewer, and a well-and-septic combination appears to be an accepted alternative. That said, any legally built dwelling still needs to go through the standard building, sewage, and plumbing permit and inspection process to get a certificate of occupancy, so full off-grid living without any permits at all is not confirmed as allowed; ask the Planning office and Health Department directly about your specific setup. source
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 4.7 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 3.2 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,309 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 47 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 7 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 3,912 (moderate)
- Frost-free season
- Apr 11 to Oct 31
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Saint Joseph Berea - 2.6 mi
- Fire station
Berea Fire Station #1 - 2.9 mi
- Hardware store
Lowe's - 8.3 mi
- Grocery
Walmart Supercenter - 3.1 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 40403).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Madison County, KY?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.