Off-grid site report

Keith County, NE

41.0641, -101.3753 · 3,258 ft elevation
Read this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Keith County, NE, 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 rulesKeith County, NE

Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Varies locallyKeith County administers countywide zoning under its 2019 regulations, but the City of Ogallala, Village of Brule, and Village of Paxton each control their own extraterritorial jurisdictions (up to 2 miles out for Ogallala, 1 mile for the villages). If your land falls in one of those zones, check with the town instead of the county Planning & Zoning office. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
RestrictedSingle-wide manufactured homes must be permanently affixed to a foundation per the county's adopted building code, and all new construction needs a zoning permit except small accessory buildings under 300 square feet. I didn't find a Keith County-specific tiny-home policy beyond that, so ask the county Planning & Zoning office directly if you're planning something unconventional. source
Building permits & codes
RestrictedKeith County adopted the 2018 International Residential/Building Code with local amendments, and it applies countywide except in the town ETJs. New construction requires a zoning permit and inspection, with only a narrow exception for small accessory buildings, so plan on going through the county Planning & Zoning Department. source
Septic & composting toilets
RestrictedSeptic systems in Keith County fall under the Nebraska DEE's statewide Onsite Wastewater Program (Title 124), which requires certified professionals for siting, construction, and repair. I could not confirm a separate Keith County health department septic-permitting process, so coordinate with the state DEE program and the county zoning office. source
Greywater reuse
RestrictedNo Keith County-specific greywater ordinance turned up in my research, so the state's Title 124 onsite wastewater framework is the default authority. This is not confirmed at the county level, so it's worth asking the state DEE office directly about your setup. source
Rainwater harvesting
Unclear - verifyI found no Keith County ordinance or page addressing rainwater harvesting, and the state-level rules are themselves unclear. This is not confirmed, so check with the county Planning & Zoning office before relying on any assumption.
Private wells & water rights
RestrictedPrivate wells in Nebraska, including Keith County, require a permit from the local Natural Resources District before drilling, with registration afterward through the state Department of Natural Resources. I could not confirm from an official source exactly which NRD covers Keith County, so contact NDNR to be pointed to the right district. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Varies locallyI found no blanket ban on living off the grid in Keith County, but a compliant septic system, well, and county zoning/building permit are still required for new construction regardless of whether you hook up to utilities. There's no confirmed mandatory-hookup ordinance, but check with the county Planning & Zoning office to be sure your plans clear inspection. source

Open the full county page with sources →

Sun30-year normals

Peak-sun hours, annual average
5.5 hrs/day
Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
4.0 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
1,577 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND

Weather1991-2020

Precipitation
19 in/yr
Snowfall
30 in/yr
Heating degree days
6,404 (cold)
Frost-free season
Apr 26 to Oct 9

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital
Ogallala Community Hospital
18.9 mi
Fire station
Paxton Fire Department
4.3 mi
Hardware store
Bomgaars
18.1 mi
Grocery
Walmart Supercenter
18.2 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 69155).

Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt

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.