Off-grid site report
Hendricks County, IN
39.7133, -86.3674Read this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Hendricks County, IN, 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 rulesHendricks County, IN
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
RestrictedHendricks County has countywide zoning administered by the Area Plan Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals, covering unincorporated areas plus Amo, North Salem, Coatesville, and Stilesville. Incorporated towns like Plainfield, Avon, Brownsburg, and Danville run their own separate zoning, not confirmed in this brief. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyNo official Hendricks County page specifically addresses tiny homes or RVs as permanent dwellings; the Planning & Building Department would need to interpret this under the Zoning Ordinance, so ask them directly. source
Building permits & codes
RestrictedThe county Planning & Building Department requires building and improvement location permits and enforces the Indiana State Building Code for eligible construction. source
Septic & composting toilets
RestrictedOn-site sewage systems require Hendricks County Health Department approval under the statewide rule (410 IAC 6-8.3), including a permit application, fee, and inspection; new septic isn't allowed where sewer service is available. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNo Hendricks County-specific greywater rule was found; it likely falls under the same Health Department onsite sewage oversight as septic, but this is not confirmed. Ask the Health Department's Environmental Health Division.
Rainwater harvesting
Unclear - verifyNo county ordinance addressing rainwater collection was found, suggesting it follows the state baseline of no prohibition, but this is not explicitly confirmed by an official Hendricks County source.
Private wells & water rights
RestrictedPrivate wells require compliance with both the state well construction rule (312 IAC 13) and the county's own Groundwater Well Ordinance 2016-37, including drilling logs, a pump test, and water sample results before occupancy, overseen by the Health Department. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo county page mandates connection to electric or water utilities, but septic and well permitting plus building code compliance are still required regardless of grid status, per the Health Department and Planning & Building Department. source
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 4.8 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 2.9 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,360 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 42 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 26 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 5,379 (moderate)
- Frost-free season
- Apr 16 to Oct 22
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Peyton Manning Children's Hospital At St. Vincent - 16.2 mi
- Fire station
Wayne Township Fire Station 83 - 4.8 mi
- Hardware store
Menards - 3.8 mi
- Grocery
Kroger - 0.4 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 46168).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Hendricks County, IN?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.