Off-grid site report

Kings County, NY

40.6465, -74.0235 · 20 ft elevation

Read this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Kings County, NY, 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 rulesKings County, NY

Zoning & raw-land occupancy

RestrictedThere is no county zoning code; the NYC Zoning Resolution, administered by the NYC Department of City Planning, governs all land use in Brooklyn, and off-grid occupancy of raw/vacant land isn't a recognized use. source

Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs

RestrictedNo official source confirms a tiny-house-on-wheels or RV carve-out for permanent occupancy in Kings County; any dwelling must meet NYC Construction Codes and zoning occupancy rules enforced by DOB. source

Building permits & codes

RestrictedNYC's own Construction Codes (Title 28 of the NYC Administrative Code) apply in Brooklyn instead of the state Uniform Code, and a DOB permit is required for most construction, alteration, or system installation work. source

Septic & composting toilets

RestrictedBrooklyn is almost entirely on the NYC sewer system; where septic exists it needs DOB and New York State Department of Health approval, and composting toilets are not confirmed as a legal substitute for sewer connection. source

Greywater reuse

RestrictedIndoor greywater reuse falls under the NYC Plumbing Code and requires a DOB construction permit plus Department of Health and Mental Hygiene review before installation or operation. source

Rainwater harvesting

Varies locallySimple outdoor rain barrel collection is allowed and handled by NYC DEP, but any indoor reuse of collected rainwater triggers the same DOB permit and DOHMH review process as greywater systems. source

Private wells & water rights

Unclear - verifyNo official Kings County or NYC source confirms a working path to permit a new private drinking-water well in Brooklyn; the borough runs on the DEP municipal water system, so ask DEP or NYS Department of Health directly before assuming this is possible. source

Living disconnected from utilities

RestrictedNo official provision was found allowing a permitted Brooklyn dwelling to remain permanently disconnected from city water and sewer; sewer certification rules point toward mandatory connection. source

Open the full county page with sources →

Sun30-year normals

Peak-sun hours, annual average: 4.7 hrs/day
Worst month (sizes an off-grid array): 3.0 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels: 1,369 kWh

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Weather1991-2020

Precipitation: 47 in/yr
Snowfall: 23 in/yr
Heating degree days: 4,671 (moderate)
Frost-free season: Apr 1 to Nov 20

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital Lenox Health Greenwich Village: 6.4 mi
Fire station New York Ladder Company 77 & Engine Company 153: 3.2 mi
Hardware store Lowe's: 7.4 mi
Grocery: none within range

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 11220).

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 21, 2026; agencies update their layers on their own schedules. Planning data, not a survey or legal advice.