Off-grid site report
Custer County, ID
44.4920, -114.2474 · 5,765 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Custer 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 rulesCuster County, ID
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
RestrictedCuster County has adopted its own Zoning Ordinance (2007, updated since) establishing districts and minimum lot sizes; a zoning certificate from county Planning & Zoning is required before building. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Varies locallyOlder mobile homes face placement restrictions unless they meet Idaho Title 44 rehab standards; tiny homes on wheels and long-term RV living as a dwelling are not confirmed under any specific county rule. source
Building permits & codes
Generally allowedCuster County requires a building notification tied to a zoning certificate, with septic approval attached beforehand; electrical/plumbing inspections are handled by the state Division of Building Safety, not the county. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedSeptic permitting in Custer County is administered by Eastern Idaho Public Health under state IDAPA rules; an installation permit is required with limited exceptions like temporary portable non-discharging systems. source
Greywater reuse
RestrictedNo separate Custer County greywater allowance was found; greywater appears governed by the same state DEQ/IDAPA subsurface sewage disposal rules enforced by Eastern Idaho Public Health.
Rainwater harvesting
Unclear - verifyNo official Custer County or Eastern Idaho Public Health page addressing residential rainwater harvesting was found; not confirmed either way.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedIdaho Department of Water Resources handles well drilling permits statewide, including for Custer County; domestic wells generally face fewer approval hurdles than irrigation or commercial wells. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo explicit Custer County ordinance addresses off-grid utility disconnection directly; zoning language implies individual well/septic substitute where central water/sewer isn't provided, but this isn't a stated official policy. source
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 5.2 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 2.8 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,465 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 10 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 8,161 (severe)
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
- none within range
- Fire station
North Custer Rural Fire - 3.5 mi
- Hardware store
- none within range
- Grocery
Village Square Super Store - 1.3 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 83226).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Custer 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 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.