Off-grid site report
Newport News city, VA
36.9508, -76.4114 · 0 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Newport News city, VA, 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 rulesNewport News city, VA
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
RestrictedNewport News has a comprehensive citywide zoning ordinance (City Code Chapter 45) with no unzoned rural land; every parcel falls under a zoning district with its own density and lot requirements. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
RestrictedState baseline (Appendix Q, RVs as vehicles) applies, but no city-specific RV/tiny-home residency ordinance was confirmed; city park rules restrict camping to a designated campground, suggesting general RV/tent living isn't accommodated.
Building permits & codes
Generally allowedVirginia's Uniform Statewide Building Code applies and is administered locally by the city's Codes Compliance office, which issues permits and inspections for any structure. source
Septic & composting toilets
RestrictedSeptic is legal under state (VDH) rule where no public sewer exists, but Newport News actively works to transition septic users to city sewer through its Sanitary Sewer Operations division; composting toilets follow the same state occupied-building sewage rule. source
Greywater reuse
Generally allowedNo Newport News-specific rule was found; greywater reuse follows the state framework administered locally by the Peninsula Health District. source
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedNo city ordinance restricting or expanding rainwater harvesting was found; the state VDH framework governs as the baseline.
Private wells & water rights
RestrictedWells are permitted under state rule 12VAC5-630 and administered by the Peninsula Health District, but given the city's extensive public water system, well approval depends on health department sanitary review and appears uncommon in practice. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo explicit city or state ban on off-grid electric power was found, but the building code plus active sewer-connection and septic/well permitting requirements make full utility disconnection impractical within city limits; not confirmed further. source
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 4.9 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 3.6 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,414 kWh
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Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 47 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 5 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 3,538 (moderate)
- Frost-free season
- Mar 27 to Nov 19
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
- none within range
- Fire station
Newport News Shipbuilding Fire Department - 2.8 mi
- Hardware store
Harbor Freight Tools - 5.4 mi
- Grocery
Piggly Wiggly - 2.5 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 23607).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Newport News city, VA?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 22, 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.