Off-grid site report

Georgetown County, SC

33.3573, -79.3802 · 3 ft elevation

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

Zoning & raw-land occupancy

Varies locallyGeorgetown County administers its own zoning ordinance countywide via its Building, Planning & Zoning Department, unlike unzoned SC counties; incorporated towns like Georgetown and Pawleys Island have separate zoning that controls within their limits. source

Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs

RestrictedState-adopted residential codes apply; RVs are generally treated as vehicles, not permanent dwellings, and full-time RV occupancy outside licensed parks is typically denied. Tiny home policy specific to the county is not confirmed on an official page, so verify with Zoning/Building. source

Building permits & codes

Generally allowedPermanent structures require permits and inspections through the county Building Department, applying the statewide building code adopted by LLR's Building Codes Council. source

Septic & composting toilets

RestrictedSCDES (formerly DHEC) approval and a permit are required before the county issues a building permit for any home not on public sewer. A claim that Georgetown County requires septic transfer inspections at sale is not confirmed on an official source; check with county Environmental Health. source

Greywater reuse

RestrictedNo county-specific greywater ordinance was found; the state SCDES engineered-system baseline applies by default. Not confirmed whether the county adds anything beyond that. source

Rainwater harvesting

Unclear - verifyNo county or SCDES-specific rainwater harvesting rule was found in official sources. Not confirmed; check with county Building/Zoning before tying a system to potable or greywater use.

Private wells & water rights

RestrictedPrivate wells are regulated statewide by SCDES; much of the county is also served by the Georgetown County Water & Sewer District, a special-purpose district separate from county government.

Living disconnected from utilities

Varies locallyNo state or county law forces grid connection, but any inhabited structure still triggers septic and building-permit requirements, and being inside a municipality may add separate utility-connection rules not found in county code. source

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): 4.0 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels: 1,441 kWh

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Weather1991-2020

Precipitation: 56 in/yr
Snowfall: 0 in/yr
Heating degree days: 2,113 (mild)
Frost-free season: Mar 19 to Nov 23

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital Tidelands Georgetown Memorial Hospital: 5.8 mi
Fire station Georgetown County Fire Department Station 1 Headquarters: 4.0 mi
Hardware store Ace Hardware: 13.5 mi
Grocery Food Lion: 4.7 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 29440).

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.