Off-grid site report

Union County, NJ

40.7119, -74.3878 · 335 ft elevation

Read this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Union County, NJ, 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 rulesUnion County, NJ

Zoning & raw-land occupancy

Varies locallyUnion County has no direct zoning authority; each of the 21 municipalities sets its own zoning ordinance. The County Planning Board only reviews plans and keeps copies of local master plans. source

Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs

Unclear - verifyNo county-level rule on tiny homes or RV occupancy was found; this is set by each municipality's zoning/land-development ordinance, such as Union Township's. source

Building permits & codes

Generally allowedBuilding permits follow the statewide Uniform Construction Code and are issued by each municipality's construction office; Union County does not run its own building code. source

Septic & composting toilets

Varies locallySeptic systems are permitted under state rules but administered by each municipality's local health department, since Union County has no dedicated county septic unit and most of the county is sewered. source

Greywater reuse

Unclear - verifyNo official Union County or NJDEP page on residential greywater reuse was found; not confirmed at either level.

Rainwater harvesting

Unclear - verifyNo county-specific rule on residential rain barrels or cisterns was found; the county's stormwater program covers municipal drainage systems, not private harvesting.

Private wells & water rights

Varies locallyPrivate wells are permitted under the state's framework but handled by each municipality's local health department rather than a countywide Union County office.

Living disconnected from utilities

Unclear - verifyNo standalone Union County ordinance on utility disconnection was found; a state Uniform Construction Code Certificate of Occupancy generally presumes approved water and sewage disposal.

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): 2.9 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels: 1,339 kWh

JFMAMJJASOND

Weather1991-2020

Precipitation: 50 in/yr
Heating degree days: 5,649 (cold)

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital Lenox Health Greenwich Village: 20.3 mi
Fire station Springfield Fire Station: 3.7 mi
Hardware store Town Hardware: 8.1 mi
Grocery Trader Joe's: 4.9 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 07974).

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.