Off-grid site report
Spokane County, WA
47.6258, -117.5010 · 2,320 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Spokane County, WA, 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 rulesSpokane County, WA
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Varies locallySpokane County has countywide zoning with rural classifications like Rural Traditional (RT); only listed uses are allowed and raw, structure-free occupancy isn't confirmed as permitted in any zone. Ask Spokane County Building & Planning about your specific parcel's zone. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Varies locallyADUs are the county's clear path for secondary dwellings; RVs as temporary residences during construction seem tied to an active permit and SRHD-approved sanitation, but tiny-house-on-wheels standards specific to Spokane County were not confirmed. source
Building permits & codes
Generally allowedSpokane County Building & Planning issues permits under the state building code but requires proof of water availability, a well log and SRHD water quality/quantity confirmation, with added state-mandated mitigation in the Little Spokane and SVRP aquifer areas. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedSpokane Regional Health District permits and inspects septic and holding tank systems under state WAC 246-272A, with recurring inspection/reporting obligations and a county ban on discharging wastewater into natural outlets.
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNo Spokane County-specific greywater ordinance was found; this appears to default to the statewide WAC 246-274 baseline administered by SRHD. Confirm with SRHD directly.
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedNo county restriction on residential rainwater catchment for non-potable use was found; county water pages focus on stormwater and floodplain management rather than harvesting limits. source
Private wells & water rights
Varies locallySmall permit-exempt domestic wells are generally allowed with a well log and SRHD water quality/quantity confirmation, but the Little Spokane watershed and SVRP aquifer areas carry extra state-driven mitigation certificate or water-bank requirements. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo standalone county ban on off-grid utility disconnection was found, but a permitted dwelling still needs an approved water source and sewage disposal system, so well-plus-septic substitutes for hookups rather than total disconnection. source
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 4.4 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 1.6 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,250 kWh
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Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 17 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 45 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 6,593 (cold)
- Frost-free season
- Apr 30 to Oct 7
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Shriners Hospitals for Children Spokane - 3.9 mi
- Fire station
Station 4 - 3.7 mi
- Hardware store
Orphan Window Company - 4.1 mi
- Grocery
Grocery Outlet - 3.0 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 99224).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Spokane County, WA?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.