Off-grid site report

Marshall County, MS

34.7958, -89.4379 · 512 ft elevation

Read this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Marshall County, MS, 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 rulesMarshall County, MS

Zoning & raw-land occupancy

RestrictedMarshall County has an adopted countywide Zoning Ordinance with districts (A, A-R, R-E, R-1, R-2, PUD) administered by the county's Zoning, Planning & Building Department, unlike many rural MS counties with no zoning at all. source

Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs

RestrictedThe county requires any placed mobile home be no older than 8 years old; tiny homes on wheels and full-time RV occupancy aren't separately addressed in county sources, so default to the more restrictive state norm and confirm with the county.

Building permits & codes

RestrictedThe county's Building Department enforces the 2018 IBC/IRC and issues permits; owner-occupants can self-permit but must use Mississippi-licensed contractors for electrical, plumbing, and mechanical work. source

Septic & composting toilets

RestrictedMSDH permits on-site wastewater systems statewide, and Marshall County adds its own rule requiring an MSDH-approved septic document plus a county permit before utilities can connect to a structure. source

Greywater reuse

Unclear - verifyNo Marshall County-specific greywater ordinance was found; it appears to fall under MSDH's general on-site wastewater rules by default, so confirm specifics with MSDH. source

Rainwater harvesting

Generally allowedNo Marshall County ordinance restricting rain barrels or cisterns was found, so the generally permissive state baseline applies; not confirmed for larger systems.

Private wells & water rights

Generally allowedWell drilling and pump installation are licensed by MDEQ's Office of Land and Water Resources statewide, and ordinary domestic wells are generally exempt from groundwater withdrawal permits; no Marshall County-specific well ordinance was found. source

Living disconnected from utilities

RestrictedMarshall County's zoning ordinance conditions any permanent utility connection on having both a county building/mobile-home permit and an MSDH document showing an approved septic system; full electrical disconnection itself isn't separately addressed, so the state baseline applies there.

Open the full county page with sources →

Sun30-year normals

Peak-sun hours, annual average: 5.0 hrs/day
Worst month (sizes an off-grid array): 3.6 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels: 1,401 kWh

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Weather1991-2020

Precipitation: 57 in/yr
Snowfall: 2 in/yr
Heating degree days: 3,640 (moderate)
Frost-free season: Apr 14 to Oct 21

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital Alliance Healthcare System: 1.4 mi
Fire station Holly Spring Fire Department Station #2: 1.6 mi
Hardware store Lewis Hardware: 18.5 mi
Grocery Walmart Supercenter: 3.6 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 38634).

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.