Off-grid site report
Minidoka County, ID
42.7538, -113.4903 · 4,282 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Minidoka County, ID, 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 rulesMinidoka County, ID
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Varies locallyMinidoka County has adopted its own countywide zoning ordinance (Title 8), administered by the county Planning and Zoning Commission; what's allowed depends on the parcel's zoning district. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
RestrictedManufactured home rules differ inside vs outside city impact areas (Class A/B only inside impact areas; HUD-approved post-1976 homes outside). Tiny homes can use 2018 IRC Appendix Q; RV-as-permanent-residence rules are not clearly confirmed in code and should be checked with the county. source
Building permits & codes
Generally allowedMinidoka County enforces its own adopted building codes (2018 IRC, IECC, IEBC, IMC, IBC, IFC, IFGC) with its own setbacks and a required final inspection before occupancy. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedSeptic permits are issued by South Central Public Health District, a regional state health district covering Minidoka County, not by the county itself, under a statewide DEQ framework. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNo Minidoka County specific greywater ordinance found; it appears to fall under the same state DEQ/health-district septic framework, administered by South Central Public Health District.
Rainwater harvesting
Unclear - verifyNo official county or health district page addressing residential rainwater harvesting was found; this is unconfirmed and inherits the state's unaddressed status.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedWell permits are issued by the Idaho Department of Water Resources, a state agency; the county requires proof of this permit as part of its own manufactured-home and building packets. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo standalone county ordinance on off-grid living or utility disconnection was found; occupancy still requires a final building inspection and an approved septic/water solution. source
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 5.4 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 2.8 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,542 kWh
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Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 10 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 23 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 6,916 (cold)
- Frost-free season
- May 19 to Sep 25
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Minidoka Memorial Hospital - 13.6 mi
- Fire station
- none within range
- Hardware store
Haun's Hardware - 18.1 mi
- Grocery
Swensens - 18.0 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 83343).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Minidoka County, ID?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 21, 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.
