Off-grid site report
Fresno County, CA
36.2536, -120.0874 · 325 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Fresno 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 rulesFresno County, CA
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
RestrictedFresno County's Zoning Ordinance (Division 6 of the County Ordinance Code), administered by the Development Services Division, governs unincorporated land use; temporary structures must conform to zoning or be removed within 30 days of a new occupancy permit, so raw-land dwelling isn't an independent legal use. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Varies locallyTiny homes are primarily allowed as ADUs under county zoning standards; exact rules for standalone off-grid RV or tiny-home-on-wheels living on raw land are not confirmed. City of Fresno has separate ADU/THOW rules that don't apply in unincorporated county land. source
Building permits & codes
RestrictedFresno County Building & Safety enforces the state's Title 24 California Building Standards Code, but zoning compliance is required before the county will issue a building, grading, or construction permit. source
Septic & composting toilets
RestrictedFresno County Environmental Health Division permits onsite wastewater treatment systems under state Health and Safety Code authority and the county's Local Area Management Program. Composting toilet rules specifically are not confirmed; ask Environmental Health directly. source
Greywater reuse
Generally allowedNo Fresno County-specific greywater ordinance was found beyond the state Plumbing Code Chapter 15 framework, so the state baseline should govern, but stricter local amendments aren't ruled out.
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedNo Fresno County ordinance modifying the state Rainwater Capture Act or Water Code rainwater provisions was found, so the state baseline applies.
Private wells & water rights
RestrictedFresno County Environmental Health issues well construction, repair, and destruction permits to licensed drillers for unincorporated areas; no ongoing permit is required to operate an existing well. Most incorporated cities in the county, including Fresno and Selma, don't allow private wells at all. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo standalone Fresno County ordinance explicitly permits or bans living without utility hookups; it's addressed indirectly through building permit water-supply conditions and septic/well permitting rather than a dedicated off-grid law.
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 6.1 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 3.5 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,680 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 8 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 0 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 2,314 (mild)
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Coalinga Regional Medical Center - 15.8 mi
- Fire station
Fresno County Fire Department Station #93 - 3.5 mi
- Hardware store
Lowe's - 23.4 mi
- Grocery
A & M Market - 15.2 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 93234).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Fresno 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.