Off-grid site report
Frederick County, VA
39.0789, -78.2153 · 735 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Frederick 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 rulesFrederick County, VA
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
RestrictedFrederick County has countywide zoning; rural land is zoned RA (Rural Areas) with large minimum lot sizes and specific dimensional setbacks (e.g., a 60-foot front setback under the RA district rules). Confirm current lot size and setback requirements with the Frederick County Planning & Development Department before buying raw land. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
RestrictedThe county treats RVs, campers, tents, and yurts as non-dwellings that can't get a certificate of occupancy; any structure used as a home must meet the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code or Manufactured Home Safety Regulations as the Building Official determines. I could not confirm any county-specific tiny-house-on-wheels allowance or size threshold, so ask the Building Inspections Department directly. source
Building permits & codes
Generally allowedFrederick County enforces the standard Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code plus the usual ICC supplements (electrical, plumbing, mechanical, energy, residential codes). No construction can start without a permit from the building official and zoning administrator, and no structure can be occupied without a certificate of occupancy; there's no off-grid exemption I found. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedOn-site sewage systems, including alternative systems, are permitted but require approval from the Virginia Department of Health's Frederick County Office under state regulations. Composting toilets fall under the same VDH oversight, though I found no county-specific composting-toilet rule beyond that, so confirm details directly with VDH. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyI found no Frederick County-specific greywater ordinance; the county's on-site sewage chapter covers septic and alternative systems but doesn't spell out greywater reuse standards separately. It appears to default to the state Board of Health rules, but confirm with the VDH Frederick County Office whether any local practice applies. source
Rainwater harvesting
Unclear - verifyNo county ordinance or health department page on rainwater harvesting or cisterns turned up in my research, so this likely defaults to the state's VDH rainwater rules (small rain barrels generally exempt, larger systems needing registration). Confirm with the Frederick County Health Department or Building Inspections before installing a large system.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedPrivate wells are permitted and administered by the Virginia Department of Health's Frederick County Office under the statewide well regulations. I couldn't confirm any additional local well-setback standards specific to Frederick County, so check with that office directly. source
Living disconnected from utilities
RestrictedThere's no standalone ordinance forcing a grid-electric hookup, but you still can't legally occupy a home without a certificate of occupancy, which in turn requires an approved building permit and, if you're off public water and sewer, an approved well and septic system. So going off-grid on electric is fine, but you can't skip the approved water/waste requirements. source
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 4.7 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 3.5 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,314 kWh
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Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 38 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 24 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 5,052 (moderate)
- Frost-free season
- Apr 11 to Oct 25
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Shenandoah Memorial Hospital - 21.5 mi
- Fire station
Stephens City Fire and Rescue Company 11 - 0.3 mi
- Hardware store
Miller's Ace Hardware - 1.3 mi
- Grocery
Martin’s Food Stores - 0.8 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 22655).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Frederick 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.