Off-grid site report
Catoosa County, GA
34.9798, -85.2108 · 712 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Catoosa 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 rulesCatoosa County, GA
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
RestrictedCatoosa County maintains its own zoning ordinance and Unified Development Code administered by the county Planning & Zoning Department; permitted land uses vary by zoning district. Incorporated cities like Ringgold and Fort Oglethorpe have separate zoning departments. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyNo official source confirms specific tiny-home or RV occupancy standards; mobile/manufactured home permits exist per county forms, but detailed rules were not confirmed. Ask the Building Inspection Department directly.
Building permits & codes
Generally allowedCatoosa County's Building Inspection Department requires permits and enforces Georgia's State Minimum Standard Codes for unincorporated county land. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedSeptic systems are permitted and inspected by Catoosa County's Environmental Health office under Georgia Department of Public Health's statewide onsite sewage rules; composting toilets aren't separately addressed. source
Greywater reuse
Generally allowedNo Catoosa-specific greywater ordinance was found; the county appears to follow Georgia's state greywater statute with no added local restriction confirmed.
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedNo county-specific rainwater harvesting rule was found; presumed to follow the state plumbing code's rainwater appendix baseline.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedPrivate household wells need a location permit from the local health department (District 4 Health covers Catoosa County), while Georgia EPD's Cartersville office handles well-driller licensing and larger groundwater withdrawal permits. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo Catoosa County ordinance directly addresses full utility disconnection; it isn't prohibited outright but is constrained by the underlying septic, well, and building permit requirements. Confirm specifics with county Environmental Health and Building Inspection.
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 5.0 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 3.5 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,367 kWh
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Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 52 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 4 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 3,239 (moderate)
- Frost-free season
- Mar 31 to Nov 7
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
CHI Memorial Hospital - 3.7 mi
- Fire station
Fire Station 13 - 2.3 mi
- Hardware store
East Ridge Hardware - 1.0 mi
- Grocery
MAPCO Mart - 0.7 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 37412).
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 21, 2026; agencies update their layers on their own schedules. Planning data, not a survey or legal advice.