Off-grid site report

Uintah County, UT

40.4504, -109.5507 · 5,410 ft elevation

Read this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Uintah County, UT, 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 rulesUintah County, UT

Zoning & raw-land occupancy

RestrictedUintah County has adopted comprehensive countywide zoning under Title 17, administered by the Planning Commission and County Commission; raw-land occupancy by tents, yurts, or temporary structures is controlled by zone and permit, not left open. source

Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs

RestrictedThe county regulates relocatable, moved, or portable structures including RVs and 'man camps' under Building and Zoning chapters 14 and 17; structures left in place long-term can be declared permanent and need permits. Naples and Vernal cities administer their own separate zoning inside city limits. source

Building permits & codes

RestrictedUintah County enforces state-adopted ICC/NFPA codes plus its own revisions, and requires a Certificate of Occupancy from the Building Official before any structure can be used or occupied. source

Septic & composting toilets

RestrictedOnsite wastewater, including composting toilets and privies, is permitted through the TriCounty Health Department under state rule R317-4, applicable in all incorporated and unincorporated areas of Uintah County. source

Greywater reuse

RestrictedNot confirmed with a dedicated county page, but TriCounty's wastewater regulation includes a graywater systems section, indicating it's administered locally under the state greywater rule; confirm directly with TriCounty Health. source

Rainwater harvesting

Generally allowedNo Uintah County or TriCounty restriction was found beyond Utah's state rainwater harvesting law, so this appears governed at the state level only.

Private wells & water rights

RestrictedNo county-specific well ordinance was found; wells appear to go through the state Division of Water Rights process, though the county is developing a Water Use and Preservation Element that could add local policy later. source

Living disconnected from utilities

Unclear - verifyThere's no standalone off-grid ordinance, but the county's Certificate of Occupancy requirement ties habitability to code compliance, and whether an approved well/septic setup satisfies that without grid utility hookups is not confirmed in available sources.

Open the full county page with sources →

Sun30-year normals

Peak-sun hours, annual average: 5.7 hrs/day
Worst month (sizes an off-grid array): 3.7 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels: 1,636 kWh

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Weather1991-2020

Precipitation: 9 in/yr
Snowfall: 18 in/yr
Heating degree days: 7,222 (cold)
Frost-free season: May 7 to Oct 4

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital Ashley Regional Medical Center: 1.1 mi
Fire station Vernal Fire Department: 1.7 mi
Hardware store Harbor Freight Tools: 0.1 mi
Grocery Smith's: 0.3 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 84078).

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.