Off-grid site report

Chesterfield County, SC

34.6851, -79.8965 · 171 ft elevation

Read this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Chesterfield County, SC, 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 rulesChesterfield County, SC

Zoning & raw-land occupancy

Unclear - verifyA Joint Planning Commission and zoning boards exist, but no unincorporated-area zoning map or ordinance text was found. Confirm parcel status with the county directly. source

Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs

Unclear - verifyNo county-specific tiny home or RV occupancy ordinance found; manufactured home placement goes through county Building Codes, but towns within the county may add their own approval.

Building permits & codes

Generally allowedChesterfield County's Building Codes department enforces the mandatory South Carolina statewide building code and issues local permits. source

Septic & composting toilets

RestrictedNo county septic ordinance exists; the state's SCDES requires approval and an installation permit under its onsite wastewater regulation before the county issues a building permit. source

Greywater reuse

RestrictedNo Chesterfield County greywater rule was found; the state (SCDES) baseline expects an engineered subsurface system for reuse.

Rainwater harvesting

Unclear - verifyNo county or state-specific rainwater harvesting rule was found for this county; check with Building Codes before connecting a system to potable plumbing.

Private wells & water rights

RestrictedNo county-added well rules were found; wells are governed by state SCDES regulation and processed through SCDES's local office network. source

Living disconnected from utilities

Varies locallyNo ordinance explicitly requires grid, water, or sewer hookup for occupancy, but septic and well permitting attach indirectly to any inhabited structure.

Open the full county page with sources →

Sun30-year normals

Peak-sun hours, annual average: 5.2 hrs/day
Worst month (sizes an off-grid array): 4.1 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels: 1,445 kWh

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Weather1991-2020

Precipitation: 46 in/yr
Snowfall: 1 in/yr
Heating degree days: 3,065 (moderate)
Frost-free season: Mar 27 to Nov 9

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital McLeod Health Cheraw: 1.5 mi
Fire station Patrick Rural Fire Department: 11.4 mi
Hardware store Lowe's: 18.2 mi
Grocery IGA: 0.2 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 29520).

Size a solar system Heat loss & insulation Firewood per winter Rainwater harvest Garden size Panel tilt

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.