Off-grid site report
San Benito County, CA
36.5098, -121.0817 · 1,368 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for San Benito County, CA, 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 rulesSan Benito County, CA
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
RestrictedSan Benito County has a full Title 25 zoning code administered by the RMA, covering zoning districts and permits; raw-land occupancy outside an approved dwelling is governed entirely by this local code, not state law. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
RestrictedTemporary manufactured homes/trailers are allowed only during construction of a permanent home, and ADUs require an existing/proposed primary dwelling plus Environmental Health septic approval; a standalone RV or tiny home on raw land isn't authorized as an independent permanent dwelling. source
Building permits & codes
RestrictedAll construction, including ADUs, requires a building permit from the RMA Building & Code Enforcement Division under California Building Code, ICC, and NEC standards. source
Septic & composting toilets
RestrictedHHSA Environmental Health administers septic (OWTS) permits under state standards, and new dwellings including ADUs need septic approval before building permits proceed; composting toilet policy is not confirmed, so ask Environmental Health directly. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNo San Benito County-specific greywater ordinance was found; the state California Plumbing Code Chapter 15 baseline likely applies, but this isn't confirmed locally, so ask HHSA Environmental Health.
Rainwater harvesting
Unclear - verifyNo county-specific rainwater harvesting rule was found; state law (Water Code and the Rainwater Capture Act) is presumed to apply without added county restriction, but this is not confirmed.
Private wells & water rights
RestrictedA county well permit is required before any well work, built on state Bulletin 74-81 construction standards, and the San Benito County Water District oversees groundwater sustainability for local subbasins. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo ordinance explicitly bans off-grid utility living, but building and water-supply code provisions functionally require a public hookup or health-approved private well/septic before a dwelling can be permitted and occupied. source
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 6.3 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 4.5 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,767 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 17 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 0 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 3,773 (moderate)
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Mee Memorial Healthcare System - 21.1 mi
- Fire station
Beaver Dam Cdf Fire Station - 11.3 mi
- Hardware store
Soledad Hardware & Lbr Inc - 14.8 mi
- Grocery
Foods Co - 14.8 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 95043).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in San Benito County, CA?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.