Off-grid site report
Lake County, FL
28.9328, -81.6683 · 102 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Lake County, FL, 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 rulesLake County, FL
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Varies locallyUnincorporated Lake County is divided into zoning districts (Agriculture, Rural, Planned Development, Lake Park, Town) plus overlays like Aquifer Protection and Flood Damage Prevention, all governed by the county's Land Development Regulations. Cities inside the county have their own separate codes. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyNo official Lake County page confirms a blanket rule for tiny homes or RVs as permanent dwellings; anecdotal reports suggest RV-as-residence requests have been denied administratively. Confirm with Lake County Building/Zoning for your specific parcel.
Building permits & codes
Generally allowedThe Florida Building Code applies statewide, and Lake County's Building Division issues permits and inspections for unincorporated areas. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedLake County has not yet transitioned to DEP; the Florida Department of Health in Lake County still permits and inspects onsite sewage treatment and disposal systems (OSTDS). Composting toilets are not separately confirmed as accepted. source
Greywater reuse
RestrictedNo Lake County-specific expansion was found; the statewide Florida Building Code restriction limiting greywater largely to toilet/urinal flushing via an approved system appears to apply by default.
Rainwater harvesting
Unclear - verifyNo official Lake County ordinance addressing residential rainwater cisterns was found; non-potable catchment appears tolerated but unconfirmed.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedLake County Environmental Health has a delegated well permitting agreement with the St. Johns River Water Management District for wells under 6 inches in diameter; larger wells or consumptive-use permits go through SJRWMD directly. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo Lake County ordinance was found explicitly banning full grid disconnection, but an occupied residence still needs an approved septic system and, if using a well instead of public water, a well construction permit. Confirm specifics with county Building/Zoning.
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 5.6 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 4.8 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,546 kWh
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Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 50 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 0 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 917 (mild)
- Frost-free season
- Jan 31 to Dec 28
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Bert Martin's Champions for Children Emergency Department & Trauma Center - 33.2 mi
- Fire station
Southside Umatilla Volunteer Fire Department Station 19 - 1.3 mi
- Hardware store
Harbor Freight Tools - 7.8 mi
- Grocery
Save-A-Lot - 0.5 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 32784).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Lake County, FL?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 21, 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.