Off-grid site report
Lincoln County, ID
42.9361, -114.4060 · 3,973 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Lincoln 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 rulesLincoln County, ID
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Varies locallyLincoln County has adopted countywide zoning districts (like A-40 agricultural) with a Planning & Zoning Commission overseeing land divisions and conditional use permits. Raw-land occupancy without a structure isn't separately addressed, so confirm with the county. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyThe county has an Accessory Dwelling Unit ordinance and separate mobile home park rules, but no official source specifically addresses tiny homes or RVs as permanent dwellings. Not confirmed, ask Planning & Zoning directly. source
Building permits & codes
RestrictedLincoln County requires a building permit before construction, administered locally but tied to state building code through the county's Building Inspector, who is affiliated with Idaho's Division of Building Safety. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedSeptic permitting is handled by South Central Public Health District under statewide DEQ rules, not by the county itself, and a septic permit must be secured before the county issues a building permit. source
Greywater reuse
RestrictedNo Lincoln County-specific greywater rule exists; greywater systems fall under the same subsurface sewage disposal permitting run by South Central Public Health District.
Rainwater harvesting
Unclear - verifyNo official Lincoln County or South Central Public Health District page addresses residential rainwater collection, so this is genuinely unconfirmed rather than restricted.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedWells are permitted through Idaho Department of Water Resources' statewide process; the county simply requires proof of that state approval as part of its building permit checklist. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo county ordinance explicitly bans off-grid living, but a building permit functionally requires proof of a well and septic system in place first, per the county's own permit checklist. source
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 5.5 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 2.5 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,560 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 11 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 6,629 (cold)
- Frost-free season
- May 16 to Sep 30
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Saint Luke's Jerome Medical Center - 15.4 mi
- Fire station
Gooding Fire Department - 15.4 mi
- Hardware store
Ace Hardware - 0.1 mi
- Grocery
Farm House Grocery - 0.6 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 83352).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Lincoln 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.