Off-grid site report
Tioga County, NY
42.1007, -76.3664 · 1,083 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Tioga County, NY, 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 rulesTioga County, NY
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Varies locallyTioga County has no countywide zoning code; the county's Economic Development & Planning office coordinates with the nine towns and six villages, each of which sets its own zoning (or none at all). source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyNo county-level rule on tiny homes or RVs as dwellings was found; this is set by the individual town or village code enforcement office where the land is located.
Building permits & codes
RestrictedTioga County administers the NYS Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code under a 2022 local law, requiring a building permit from the Code Enforcement Officer for most construction, alteration, or relocation of structures. source
Septic & composting toilets
RestrictedA permit is required for new or repaired septic systems, issued by Tioga County Public Health following NYS DOH residential wastewater standards; composting toilets appear to fall back on state DOH standards since no separate county rule was found. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNo Tioga County-specific greywater ordinance was found; this is not confirmed at the county level, so New York State DOH/DEC standards would apply by default. Confirm with Tioga County Public Health.
Rainwater harvesting
Unclear - verifyNo county ordinance or guidance on rainwater harvesting was found; state-level rules, which are generally permissive, would apply by default, but this is not confirmed for Tioga County specifically.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedPrivate wells are permitted, and Tioga County Public Health conducts water quality analyses on public and private supplies consistent with NYS DOH/DEC standards; no separate county well permit was confirmed.
Living disconnected from utilities
Varies locallyThere is no countywide mandate requiring grid utility connection; this depends on the code enforcement rules of the specific town or village where the property is located.
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 4.2 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 2.4 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,166 kWh
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Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 39 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 43 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 6,782 (cold)
- Frost-free season
- Apr 26 to Oct 28
- Design low
- -4 °F
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Guthrie Robert Packer Hospital - 11.5 mi
- Fire station
Owego Fire Department Station #3 - 5.0 mi
- Hardware store
Valu Hardware - 6.9 mi
- Grocery
Price Chopper - 4.9 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 13734).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Tioga County, NY?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.