Off-grid site report

Allegany County, NY

42.2139, -78.1155 · 1,473 ft elevation

Read this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Allegany County, NY, 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 rulesAllegany County, NY

Zoning & raw-land occupancy

Varies locallyAllegany County has no countywide zoning ordinance; zoning authority rests with individual towns and villages, some of which (like Hume) are unzoned while others (like the Town of Allegany) have full zoning codes. The Allegany County Planning Board only reviews local zoning actions in an advisory role. source

Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs

Unclear - verifyNo countywide standard for tiny homes or RVs as permanent dwellings was found; this is set by whichever town's zoning and building rules apply. Confirm with the specific town office.

Building permits & codes

RestrictedAllegany County has opted out of enforcing the state Uniform Code and energy code, so building permits in unincorporated areas are handled by New York State's Division of Building Standards and Codes regional office; towns like the Town of Allegany that kept local enforcement issue their own permits. source

Septic & composting toilets

RestrictedThe Allegany County Department of Health issues and enforces septic permits under its own Sanitary Code and state sanitary code provisions; holding tanks are not allowed as a permanent wastewater solution, only temporarily during construction of an approved system. source

Greywater reuse

Unclear - verifyNo Allegany County-specific greywater reuse rule was found in official sources; not confirmed, so ask the county Health Department's Environmental Health Division before building a reuse system.

Rainwater harvesting

Unclear - verifyNo Allegany County or town-specific rainwater harvesting ordinance was found; not confirmed, treat as inheriting the general state baseline and confirm locally.

Private wells & water rights

Generally allowedPrivate wells are permitted, with the Allegany County Health Department providing oversight and testing support and requiring DEC-registered well contractors and state well-construction standards.

Living disconnected from utilities

Varies locallyNo countywide law requiring grid electrical connection was found; because zoning and building enforcement are set at the town level here, any grid-connection requirement would come from an individual town's code.

Open the full county page with sources →

Sun30-year normals

Peak-sun hours, annual average: 4.4 hrs/day
Worst month (sizes an off-grid array): 2.4 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels: 1,218 kWh

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Weather1991-2020

Precipitation: 42 in/yr
Snowfall: 58 in/yr
Heating degree days: 7,311 (cold)
Frost-free season: Apr 29 to Oct 22
Design low: -6 °F

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital Jones Memorial Hospital: 10.5 mi
Fire station Belmont Fire Department: 4.4 mi
Hardware store Belmont Lumber & Hardware: 4.2 mi
Grocery Criss Market: 4.2 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 14739).

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 21, 2026; agencies update their layers on their own schedules. Planning data, not a survey or legal advice.