Off-grid site report

Fillmore County, NE

40.5332, -97.6108 · 1,641 ft elevation

Read this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Fillmore County, NE, 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 rulesFillmore County, NE

Zoning & raw-land occupancy

Varies locallyFillmore County has countywide zoning under state statute, but its jurisdiction excludes one-mile zones around several villages and some townships impose stricter rules on top. A 2024 amendment bars new dwellings in the Ag District floodplain. source

Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs

Varies locallyState law allows tiny houses as manufactured homes, modular units, or RVs meeting NFPA/ANSI standards, but whether Fillmore County allows these as permanent dwellings on raw land is not confirmed. source

Building permits & codes

Varies locallyThe county requires a zoning permit process coordinated with townships, but whether it enforces a full state building code versus zoning-permit-only is not confirmed. source

Septic & composting toilets

RestrictedNo Fillmore County-specific septic ordinance was found; septic systems are governed by the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy's statewide onsite wastewater permit program. source

Greywater reuse

RestrictedNo county-specific greywater rule was found; this inherits the state baseline under NDEE Title 124, which generally requires treatment and permitting.

Rainwater harvesting

Unclear - verifyNo Fillmore County ordinance on rainwater harvesting was found, and there's no clear statewide prohibition, so status is not confirmed either way.

Private wells & water rights

RestrictedFillmore County lies within the Little Blue NRD, which issued mandatory groundwater allocations in 2025 capping high-capacity use; all wells must be registered with the state DNR after completion.

Living disconnected from utilities

Varies locallyNo county ordinance forces grid or municipal hookup in unincorporated areas, but zoning, state septic rules, and NRD well registration still apply; villages may impose their own hookup rules. source

Open the full county page with sources →

Sun30-year normals

Peak-sun hours, annual average: 5.1 hrs/day
Worst month (sizes an off-grid array): 3.7 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels: 1,481 kWh

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Weather1991-2020

Precipitation: 29 in/yr
Snowfall: 20 in/yr
Heating degree days: 5,724 (cold)
Frost-free season: Apr 20 to Oct 15

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital Fillmore County Hospital: 1.4 mi
Fire station Geneva Fire Department: 0.9 mi
Hardware store Beaver Hardware & Supply: 24.2 mi
Grocery Walmart Supercenter: 20.4 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 68361).

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.