Off-grid site report
Kauai County, HI
22.0504, -159.5589 · 2,894 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Kauai County, HI, 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 rulesKauai County, HI
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Varies locallyKauai's countywide Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance sets dwelling density by State Land Use district (Agricultural, Open, Urban, etc.), administered by the County Planning Department. Density formulas differ significantly by district and parcel size. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyThe CZO recognizes accessory units like guest houses and ADUs, but I could not confirm official county text on tiny-home or RV occupancy specifics; ask the Planning Department directly. source
Building permits & codes
RestrictedKauai County DPW Building Division requires permits countywide under the 2018 IRC/IBC family plus interim NEC/UPC codes, alongside a companion Zoning Permit from Planning. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedSeptic systems, cesspools, and composting/incinerator toilets are approved and regulated by the State DOH Wastewater Branch through the Kauai District Health Office, not a county health department. Composting toilets alone don't cover shower/sink wastewater. source
Greywater reuse
Generally allowedGreywater use is defined and allowed under State DOH rules, though Hawaii is still developing detailed onsite reuse standards; Kauai's DPW adds its own permit and inspection layer. No distinct Kauai greywater ordinance was found. source
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedRainwater catchment is allowed under the state baseline requiring counties to permit such systems; no Kauai-specific restriction was found in county sources.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedPrivate well drilling, modification, or pump installation requires a permit from the State DLNR Commission on Water Resource Management; Kauai's Department of Water only governs connections to the public water system. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo standalone Kauai ordinance addresses off-grid living as a whole; legality is assembled from compliance with zoning, building, wastewater, and well rules described above.
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 4.6 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 4.2 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,307 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 78 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 0 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 2 (mild)
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Kauai Veterans Memorial Hospital - 9.5 mi
- Fire station
Waimea Station 7 - 9.6 mi
- Hardware store
Hardware Hawaii - 11.8 mi
- Grocery
Big Save Super Market - 9.6 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 96714).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Kauai County, HI?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.