Off-grid site report
Gloucester County, VA
37.3992, -76.5270 · 98 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Gloucester County, VA, 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 rulesGloucester County, VA
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
RestrictedGloucester County has active countywide zoning administered by the Department of Planning and Zoning; a zoning permit is required for most new structures or land use changes, with a narrow exemption for bona fide agriculture/forestry buildings in RC-1/RC-2 districts (setbacks still apply). source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Varies locallyPermanent dwellings must meet the Virginia USBC and get county permits; RVs and wheeled tiny homes aren't treated as permanent dwellings. Specific tiny-home foundation/size rules are not confirmed on an official county page, so confirm with Building Inspection. source
Building permits & codes
Generally allowedBuilding permits are required for construction, alteration, or regulated equipment changes, per the county's Building Inspection office, which also coordinates with septic/well and land-disturbance permitting. Gloucester is in a 100 mph wind zone affecting design requirements. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedSeptic systems are permitted through the Gloucester County Health Department under the VDH Three Rivers Health District; construction permits are time-limited and don't transfer with property sale. Composting toilet rules specific to Gloucester are not confirmed. source
Greywater reuse
Generally allowedGreywater reuse is governed by state VDH regulations adopted under Virginia Code Section 32.1-248.2; no Gloucester-specific greywater ordinance was found, so the state framework applies through the local health department. source
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedRain barrels up to 100 gallons for basic on-site use are explicitly excluded from VDH regulation; larger or potable-use systems fall under VDH's statewide Rainwater Harvesting System Regulations. No Gloucester-specific rainwater rule was found. source
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedPrivate wells are permitted through the Gloucester County Health Department under statewide VDH rules, and since 2019 applications must be supported by a licensed private-sector consultant through DPOR. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo Gloucester ordinance mandates grid electric connection, but occupancy in practice requires approved septic and well systems plus zoning/building permits, so full independence from electric utilities specifically is not confirmed either way.
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 5.0 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 3.6 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,420 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 48 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 3,859 (moderate)
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Riverside Walter Reed Hospital - 1.7 mi
- Fire station
Abingdon Volunteer Fire and Rescue Station 5 - 6.1 mi
- Hardware store
The Home Depot - 0.3 mi
- Grocery
Walmart Supercenter - 0.1 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 23061).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Gloucester County, VA?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.