Off-grid site report
Douglas County, GA
33.7241, -84.7678 · 1,109 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Douglas 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 rulesDouglas County, GA
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
RestrictedDouglas County has adopted a Unified Development Code with countywide zoning; all property must be used consistent with its zoning district as shown on the county Zoning Map, per Douglas County Planning & Zoning. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyNo official Douglas County source confirms specific rules for tiny houses or RVs as permanent dwellings; a mobile home permitting process exists but that's a distinct category. Confirm directly with Planning & Zoning. source
Building permits & codes
Generally allowedDouglas County's Building Division issues building permits for unincorporated areas and enforces state minimum codes with county-adopted amendments, per the Board of Commissioners. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedSeptic systems are permitted through Cobb & Douglas Public Health's Environmental Health office, which enforces Georgia DPH's onsite sewage rules (Ch. 511-3-1) locally; composting toilets are not separately addressed and should be confirmed with that office. source
Greywater reuse
Generally allowedNo Douglas County-specific greywater ordinance was found, so the state baseline under Georgia law appears to apply; confirm with Cobb & Douglas Public Health for any built system.
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedNo Douglas County ordinance restricting rainwater harvesting was found, so the state plumbing code baseline appears to apply. Not confirmed at the county level.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedNo Douglas County-specific well ordinance was found beyond Georgia's state Water Well Standards Act; well permitting is processed through the county health department under state law. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo Douglas County ordinance directly addresses living fully off the utility grid; the Building Division requires permit applicants to identify existing utilities before construction, suggesting a case-by-case approach rather than a stated policy. source
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 5.1 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 3.8 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,353 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 51 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 2,880 (mild)
- Frost-free season
- Mar 27 to Nov 11
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Ridgeview Institute - Smyrna - 17.3 mi
- Fire station
Douglas County Fire / EMS Headquarters - 1.9 mi
- Hardware store
Harbor Freight Tools - 0.1 mi
- Grocery
Beauty Master - 0.8 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 30135).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Douglas 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.