Off-grid site report
Decatur County, GA
30.9023, -84.5810 · 161 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Decatur County, GA, 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 rulesDecatur County, GA
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Varies locallyDecatur County has not adopted a traditional zoning ordinance; land use is instead governed by a Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) and Land Development/Construction Regulations administered by the county Planning Department. Municipalities inside the county, like Bainbridge, may have separate zoning not covered here. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Varies locallyManufactured/mobile homes are explicitly addressed in county construction regulations with permits issued by the Building Permitting Division; tiny-house-specific standards were not confirmed, so ask the Building Department directly. source
Building permits & codes
Generally allowedBuilding, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, and mobile home permits are all required and issued through the Bainbridge-Decatur County Building Department; industrialized building units also need a state DCA approval seal under the Georgia Industrialized Building Act. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedSeptic tank permits are issued by the county Environmental Health office, part of the Southwest Georgia Public Health District, and require a soil suitability check before construction. Composting toilets aren't separately addressed locally, so the state's onsite sewage rules would apply. source
Greywater reuse
Generally allowedNo Decatur County-specific greywater ordinance was found; this inherits the state baseline under Georgia law, administered through the same county Environmental Health office that handles septic. source
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedNo Decatur County-specific rainwater harvesting ordinance was found; this falls back to the state plumbing code baseline, with any cistern plumbing compliance running through the county Building Department.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedPrivate wells follow Georgia's Water Well Standards Act framework, with the state/district Non-Public Well Program handling installation, maintenance, and abandonment guidance; larger groundwater withdrawals go through Georgia EPD, not typical for single-family wells. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo dedicated Decatur County ordinance on full utility disconnection was found; practical constraints come from septic, building, and driveway permit requirements rather than a direct utility mandate.
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 5.4 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 4.2 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,486 kWh
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Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 53 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 0 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 1,771 (mild)
- Frost-free season
- Mar 18 to Nov 18
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Memorial Hospital & Manor - 1.7 mi
- Fire station
Kendrick VFD - 8.2 mi
- Hardware store
Stone's Home Centers - 0.8 mi
- Grocery
Dixie Dandy Market - 1.0 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 39819).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Decatur County, GA?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.