Off-grid site report
Martin County, FL
27.1708, -80.2957 · 33 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Martin County, FL, 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 rulesMartin County, FL
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Varies locallyMartin County has countywide zoning under its Land Development Regulations (LDRs), with rules varying sharply by district; agricultural zones like AG-20A can require 20-acre minimum lots. Confirm your specific parcel's district with Growth Management before assuming raw-land occupancy is allowed. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyWhether an RV or tiny house on wheels can serve as a permanent residence on a given lot is a Martin County LDR zoning-use question, and I could not confirm the specific section governing this. Not confirmed, call Growth Management/Planning for a use determination. source
Building permits & codes
RestrictedMartin County's Building Department requires a permit for most construction, alteration, or occupancy changes, enforcing the Florida Building Code locally. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedSeptic systems, including aerobic treatment units, are permitted and inspected by the Florida Department of Health in Martin County; the county is not among the 16 counties where DEP directly took over permitting. source
Greywater reuse
RestrictedNo Martin County-specific rule loosening the statewide Florida Building Code restriction was found, which generally limits greywater reuse to toilet/urinal flushing.
Rainwater harvesting
Unclear - verifyNo official Martin County page addressing residential rainwater harvesting for potable or non-potable use was found; not confirmed either way.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedWell construction is permitted by the South Florida Water Management District, with the Florida Department of Health in Martin County serving as the well-permit submittal point; a separate consumptive use permit generally isn't needed for an ordinary single-family domestic well. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo standalone Martin County ordinance explicitly prohibiting or permitting full grid disconnection was found; in practice it's governed by the combination of septic, well, and building code requirements above.
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 5.6 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 4.8 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,550 kWh
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Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 64 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 0 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 290 (mild)
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Martin Medical Center - 3.8 mi
- Fire station
Martin County Fire / Rescue Station 21 - 1.6 mi
- Hardware store
Peters Hardware - 1.7 mi
- Grocery
Publix - 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 34990).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Martin County, FL?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 21, 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.
