Off-grid site report

Rawlins County, KS

39.8377, -101.0433 · 2,956 ft elevation
Read this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Rawlins County, KS, 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 rulesRawlins County, KS

Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Unclear - verifyI couldn't find an official Rawlins County zoning ordinance or planning page. Non-official sources conflict on whether the county administers zoning for unincorporated land or leaves it to cities/towns, so confirm directly with Rawlins County government (start at the county homepage) which office, if any, handles zoning outside Atwood. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyNo official county document on tiny homes, minimum dwelling sizes, or RV/travel-trailer occupancy turned up in my research. Kansas doesn't set a statewide rule here, so it would come down to a local ordinance I couldn't locate, ask Rawlins County government directly. source
Building permits & codes
Unclear - verifyI found no official Rawlins County building code or permit office page. Kansas has no mandatory statewide building code, so whether Rawlins County has adopted its own for unincorporated areas is something only the county can confirm. source
Septic & composting toilets
RestrictedKDHE's official records confirm Rawlins County adopted its own Sanitary Code back in November 1992, which governs septic and onsite wastewater systems locally, building on state design standards. The full text wasn't available to me to spell out composting toilet specifics, so ask the county's environmental/sanitary code contact (via KDHE) for details. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyThe 1992 Rawlins County Sanitary Code likely touches on greywater as part of its wastewater rules, but I wasn't able to read the full document to confirm specifics. Absent that, the state's general KDHE onsite wastewater framework applies as a baseline, but check with the county for its local sanitary code language. source
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedI found no Rawlins County restriction on rainwater harvesting, so this inherits the Kansas state baseline: household rainwater collection is exempt from water appropriation permitting under the Kansas Water Appropriation Act, per the state Division of Water Resources.
Private wells & water rights
Varies locallyKDHE's statewide well-permit page notes that many Kansas counties (and even some cities) require their own well permit, but Rawlins County's specific stance wasn't visible in my research. Well construction must still meet KDHE standards statewide, and domestic use is usually exempt from state appropriation permits, but confirm any local permit requirement with Rawlins County via KDHE's county permit tracker. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo official Rawlins County ordinance mandating hookup to public water, sewer, or electric service was found. Kansas has no statewide requirement of this kind, so this would only come from a local code I couldn't locate, worth a direct call to the county to be sure. source

Open the full county page with sources →

Sun30-year normals

Peak-sun hours, annual average
5.6 hrs/day
Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
4.1 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
1,618 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND

Weather1991-2020

Precipitation
23 in/yr
Snowfall
29 in/yr
Heating degree days
5,890 (cold)
Frost-free season
May 2 to Oct 4

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital
Rawlins County Health Center
1.7 mi
Fire station
Atwood Fire Department
2.1 mi
Hardware store
Brown's True Value
2.1 mi
Grocery
none within range

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 67730).

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

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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.