Off-grid site report

Howard County, NE

41.0727, -98.7155 · 1,923 ft elevation

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

Zoning & raw-land occupancy

RestrictedHoward County has adopted countywide zoning regulations controlling land use, structure height and bulk, administered by the county Planning and Zoning Department; villages like St. Paul add their own zoning plus a one-mile extraterritorial jurisdiction. source

Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs

Unclear - verifyNo specific Howard County ordinance on tiny homes or RVs as dwellings was found; St. Paul requires a zoning permit for structures over a small size threshold within city limits. Confirm with the county or relevant village office. source

Building permits & codes

Varies locallyThe county requires a combined Zoning/Building Permit Application plus floodplain and subdivision applications; whether a full structural building code is adopted beyond zoning/floodplain rules is not confirmed, and villages like St. Paul may have separate code requirements. source

Septic & composting toilets

RestrictedSeptic systems statewide, including Howard County, must meet Nebraska NDEE Title 124 design and installer-certification requirements; local zoning or health offices may add requirements, so ask the county Planning and Zoning office directly. source

Greywater reuse

Unclear - verifyNo Howard County-specific greywater ordinance was found; the state's NDEE Title 124 framework is the presumed baseline, but this is not confirmed at the county level.

Rainwater harvesting

Unclear - verifyNo Howard County ordinance addressing rainwater collection was found in official sources; treat this as unconfirmed and check with county Planning and Zoning.

Private wells & water rights

RestrictedWells are regulated by the state and by the Central Platte Natural Resources District, which covers Howard County; unpermitted domestic and livestock wells are capped at 50 gallons per minute under state rules. source

Living disconnected from utilities

Varies locallyNo countywide ordinance mandating grid or municipal utility hookup for unincorporated land was found, though state septic compliance still applies; village rules within city limits may differ and are not confirmed here.

Open the full county page with sources →

Sun30-year normals

Peak-sun hours, annual average: 5.2 hrs/day
Worst month (sizes an off-grid array): 3.7 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels: 1,511 kWh

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Weather1991-2020

Precipitation: 27 in/yr
Snowfall: 24 in/yr
Heating degree days: 6,829 (cold)
Frost-free season: May 2 to Sep 30

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital Howard County Medical Center: 16.5 mi
Fire station Rockville City Fire Department: 6.8 mi
Hardware store Menards: 19.5 mi
Grocery Walmart Supercenter: 19.3 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 68820).

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.