Off-grid site report
Glenn County, CA
39.5218, -122.0139 · 105 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Glenn County, CA, 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 rulesGlenn County, CA
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Varies locallyGlenn County's Title 15 Unified Development Code sets rules zone-by-zone, and there's actually a specific carve-out allowing permanent occupancy (over 90 days a year) on 'Wild Land and Primitive Development' parcels of 40 acres or more in RZ and FA zones. On smaller parcels or in other zones, long-term occupancy of raw land without an approved dwelling is restricted, so you really need to check your parcel's zone with Planning before assuming anything. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyGlenn County Code addresses mobile home parks and requires them to meet California HCD Division of Codes and Standards requirements, but I couldn't find county-specific ordinance text on tiny-houses-on-wheels or long-term RV occupancy outside of parks. This is genuinely not confirmed in my research, so call the Planning Division directly before you plan on living in an RV or THOW long-term. source
Building permits & codes
RestrictedThe Building Division administers all applicable federal, state, and local building codes through permitting, plan review, and inspection, which is the standard California model. I found no evidence of any off-grid or owner-builder exemption unique to Glenn County, so expect to go through normal permitting for any structure. source
Septic & composting toilets
RestrictedGlenn County Environmental Health acts as the Local Enforcement Agency implementing California's statewide OWTS Policy, and county code requires a professional site evaluation by a Qualified Professional before an OWTS Construction Permit is issued. Composting toilets aren't separately addressed in what I found, so it's not confirmed whether they'd be accepted as a sole sewage solution without a backup system, ask Environmental Health directly. source
Greywater reuse
Generally allowedI didn't find a Glenn County-specific greywater ordinance, so the county appears to just defer to the California Plumbing Code Chapter 15 standard used statewide. Whether the county has layered on any stricter local rule is not confirmed, so it's worth a quick check with Environmental Health or Building.
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedNo Glenn County ordinance restricting rooftop rainwater catchment turned up in my research, so the state baseline under the Water Code applies. If you're planning a large-scale system it's still worth a courtesy call to the county to confirm nothing local applies.
Private wells & water rights
RestrictedGlenn County's Water Resources Division and the Glenn Groundwater Authority actively manage groundwater, including a regional Pilot Domestic Well Mitigation Program tied to declining groundwater levels, which tells me wells here face heightened local scrutiny beyond basic state construction standards. I couldn't pin down the specific well-permitting office or section number, so confirm directly with Water Resources or the Groundwater Authority before drilling. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyI found no dedicated Glenn County ordinance on off-grid utility disconnection like electrical or water hookup mandates. As at the state level, this likely gets addressed indirectly through building and health code habitability requirements during permitting, so it's not confirmed as a distinct rule, check with the Building Division or Code Enforcement. source
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 5.7 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 3.0 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,575 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 27 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 2,779 (mild)
- Frost-free season
- Mar 13 to Nov 18
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Glenn Medical Center - 10.4 mi
- Fire station
Princeton Fire Department - 8.1 mi
- Hardware store
Corning Lumber - 9.5 mi
- Grocery
Mar Val - 9.6 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 95920).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Glenn County, CA?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.