Off-grid site report

Northumberland County, PA

40.7919, -76.5594 · 846 ft elevation
Read this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Northumberland County, PA, 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 rulesNorthumberland County, PA

Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Varies locallyNorthumberland County itself does not administer zoning; each of the 36 municipalities (townships/boroughs) adopts and enforces its own ordinance under the state Municipalities Planning Code, and some may have none at all. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyNo county-specific rule was found for tiny homes or RVs; occupancy is governed by whichever municipal zoning applies plus the state Uniform Construction Code administered by CK-COG for most member municipalities.
Building permits & codes
RestrictedMost Northumberland municipalities use CK-COG to enforce the state Uniform Construction Code, and zoning/floodplain approval is required before a building permit issues; agricultural buildings have a narrow UCC exemption but still need other local approvals. source
Septic & composting toilets
RestrictedUnder the state Sewage Facilities Act (Act 537), permitting is delegated to each municipality's own Sewage Enforcement Officer since Northumberland has no county health department running this program; composting toilet rules default to the state NSF Standard 41 baseline. source
Greywater reuse
RestrictedNo Northumberland County or municipal greywater ordinance was found; the state DEP Chapter 73/Act 537 framework, which treats greywater as sewage requiring a permitted system, appears to govern by default.
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedRainwater harvesting for non-potable use appears permitted with no county-specific restriction found, though state rules do not allow it as an approved primary potable source.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedNo state permit or distinct Northumberland County well-permitting program was found; drilling falls under the state Water Well Drillers License Act (Act 610), and DEP's Northcentral Regional Office in Williamsport serves the county for water-testing help. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Varies locallyCK-COG confirms electric hookup is not a building-permit requirement, and water/sewer availability depends on proximity to borough service areas; always confirm occupancy conditions with your specific township or borough.

Open the full county page with sources →

Sun30-year normals

Peak-sun hours, annual average
4.5 hrs/day
Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
2.7 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
1,248 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND

Weather1991-2020

Precipitation
45 in/yr
Snowfall
32 in/yr
Heating degree days
6,083 (cold)

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital
Geisinger Bloomsburg Hospital
16.0 mi
Fire station
West End Fire
0.5 mi
Hardware store
George B. Keiser
0.3 mi
Grocery
Weis
2.1 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 17872).

Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt

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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.