Off-grid site report
Chatham County, GA
32.1677, -81.1957 · 16 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Chatham County, GA, 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 rulesChatham County, GA
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
RestrictedChatham County has a countywide zoning ordinance (enacted 1962, as amended) administered with the Metropolitan Planning Commission; raw land use requires a zoning review, and this applies only to unincorporated areas since cities like Savannah have their own codes. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyNo official Chatham County or MPC page was found confirming a tiny-house appendix adoption or minimum dwelling size; mobile home parks specifically need a county Park Development Permit from the Director of Inspections. Confirm dwelling size/RV rules directly with the county.
Building permits & codes
Generally allowedThe county's Building Safety & Regulatory Services department issues permits and enforces state and county code; septic-served structures need Environmental Health sign-off first. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedThe Georgia Coastal Health District (Chatham Health) permits and inspects septic systems under state DPH rules; composting toilets are not addressed in any official page found. source
Greywater reuse
Generally allowedNo Chatham County ordinance was found altering the statewide greywater statute (O.C.G.A. §31-3-5.2); the state rule appears to apply as the baseline.
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedNo county-specific rainwater ordinance was located; this appears to follow the statewide plumbing code baseline with no local add-on confirmed.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedChatham County has adopted its own Well Ordinance (Article VI of the county code) layered on the state Water Well Standards Act, with local permitting and required inspections; exact setback distances should be confirmed against the county's own ordinance text, not secondary sources. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo dedicated county ordinance on full utility disconnection was found; in practice a septic permit and well permit substitute for sewer/water hookups, both reviewed by Environmental Health before a Certificate of Occupancy is issued.
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 5.3 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 3.9 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,454 kWh
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Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 48 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 0 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 1,811 (mild)
- Frost-free season
- Mar 6 to Nov 28
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Memorial Health University Medical Center - 11.4 mi
- Fire station
Port Wentworth Fire Station 2 - 0.8 mi
- Hardware store
The Home Depot - 3.4 mi
- Grocery
Food Lion - 2.2 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 31407).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Chatham County, GA?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.