Off-grid site report
Maricopa County, AZ
33.4166, -111.6343 · 1,519 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Maricopa County, AZ, 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 rulesMaricopa County, AZ
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Varies locallyMaricopa County's Zoning Ordinance (MCZO) governs only unincorporated land, with rural districts requiring large minimum lot sizes (from one acre up to over four acres) to discourage development without water/sewer/emergency services. Incorporated cities and towns use their own separate zoning codes instead. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
RestrictedManufactured homes built after June 15, 1976 on a permanent foundation can be permitted on rural/residential unincorporated lots via the County; standalone RVs as permanent dwellings on raw land are not clearly confirmed county-wide and appear restricted in at least one incorporated town's code. Confirm with Planning & Development. source
Building permits & codes
Generally allowedA building permit is required for construction in unincorporated Maricopa County, issued and inspected by the Planning and Development Department, even for off-grid (solar, well, septic) homes. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedSeptic systems require a Discharge Authorization from Maricopa County Environmental Services Department, layered on the state's Aquifer Protection Permit rules; composting toilets alone are not clearly addressed and should be confirmed directly with the county. source
Greywater reuse
Generally allowedNo Maricopa County-specific greywater restriction was found; the state ADEQ general permit tier system appears to be the governing framework here. source
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedNo county ordinance restricting or requiring permits for residential rainwater collection was found; it appears to follow the state's permissive baseline.
Private wells & water rights
RestrictedWells on parcels of five acres or less require Maricopa County Environmental Services review and site inspection before ADWR issues final approval, consistent with Arizona statute A.R.S. 45-596(F). source
Living disconnected from utilities
Generally allowedNo county mandate was found requiring connection to electric, water, or sewer grids; off-grid infrastructure like wells, septic, and solar is handled through separate individual agency approvals. source
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 6.6 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 5.1 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,795 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 11 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 0 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 1,517 (mild)
- Frost-free season
- Feb 4 to Dec 6
- Design low
- 31 °F
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Banner Children’s at Desert - 14.2 mi
- Fire station
Rural Metro Fire Station 859 - 1.7 mi
- Hardware store
Harbor Freight Tools - 1.9 mi
- Grocery
American Discount Foods - 0.4 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 85207).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Maricopa County, AZ?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 22, 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.