Off-grid site report

Johnson County, WY

44.3478, -106.6996 · 4,636 ft elevation

Read this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Johnson County, WY, 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 rulesJohnson County, WY

Zoning & raw-land occupancy

Varies locallyJohnson County has no adopted countywide zoning ordinance; a draft was presented to commissioners in 2014 but never adopted, and the county currently works from a Comprehensive Land Use Plan that's under active revision. The City of Buffalo and Town of Kaycee have their own municipal zoning that applies within town limits, so check with them separately if that's where you're looking. source

Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs

Unclear - verifyI couldn't find an official Johnson County page addressing tiny homes, mobile homes, or RV occupancy on unincorporated land. Given there's no countywide zoning, it's likely unrestricted, but this isn't confirmed anywhere on the county's official site, so call the Planning & Zoning Department to be sure before you buy or build.

Building permits & codes

Unclear - verifyI found no evidence Johnson County requires building permits or inspections on unincorporated land, and its Planning Department page only lists subdivision review, rural addressing, floodplain, and septic duties, not a building-permit program. That absence is suggestive but not a direct official confirmation, so verify current policy with the county Planning Department before assuming you're in the clear. source

Septic & composting toilets

RestrictedJohnson County requires permits for new small wastewater systems, privies, outhouses, and holding tanks, and requires a registered licensed engineer to design all septic systems, under authority delegated from the state's small wastewater permitting framework. The county opened a public comment period on septic regulation changes in early 2026, so double check the current rules with the county Sanitarian before you plan a system. source

Greywater reuse

Generally allowedI didn't find any Johnson County-specific greywater ordinance; the county's septic page covers conventional and non-conventional wastewater but doesn't call out greywater separately. That means the state's general permit-by-rule framework through Wyoming DEQ is what applies here. source

Rainwater harvesting

Generally allowedNo Johnson County ordinance addressing rainwater collection turned up in my research, and Wyoming has no statute or State Engineer rule targeting residential rainwater harvesting, so this looks fine to do at the state and county level.

Private wells & water rights

RestrictedWells in Johnson County fall under the same statewide rule as everywhere else in Wyoming: you must file an Application for Permit to Appropriate Ground Water with the State Engineer's Office before drilling, use a licensed well driller and pump installer, and file a Statement of Completion afterward. No county-specific well rule was found beyond this state framework. source

Living disconnected from utilities

Varies locallyI found no official Johnson County requirement to hook up to electric, gas, or municipal water and sewer on unincorporated land, matching Wyoming's lack of a statewide mandate. Off-grid solar, wind, or generator setups don't appear restricted by anything on the county's official pages, but confirm with Planning & Zoning if you're near town limits where municipal rules could differ.

Open the full county page with sources →

Sun30-year normals

Peak-sun hours, annual average: 5.1 hrs/day
Worst month (sizes an off-grid array): 3.4 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels: 1,457 kWh

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Weather1991-2020

Precipitation: 13 in/yr
Snowfall: 37 in/yr
Heating degree days: 7,619 (severe)
Frost-free season: May 17 to Sep 25

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital Johnson County Memorial Hospital: 0.4 mi
Fire station Story Volunteer Fire Department: 18.3 mi
Hardware store Buffalo Ace Hardware: 0.5 mi
Grocery Lynn's Superfoods: 0.2 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 82834).

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 22, 2026; agencies update their layers on their own schedules. Planning data, not a survey or legal advice.