Off-grid site report

Onondaga County, NY

43.0008, -75.9794 · 571 ft elevation

Read this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Onondaga County, NY, 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 rulesOnondaga County, NY

Zoning & raw-land occupancy

Varies locallyNo countywide zoning exists; each of the 19 towns and 15 villages (all but the Town of Otisco) has adopted its own zoning code governing lot size and permitted uses. The County Planning Department coordinates review but does not set the rules itself. source

Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs

Varies locallyDwelling type rules (tiny homes, RVs, minimum size, foundation requirements) are set by each town or village zoning code, not the county. Not confirmed at county level for unincorporated areas. source

Building permits & codes

RestrictedBuilding permits are issued by each town or village Building and Codes office, enforcing the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code; the county itself does not issue residential building permits. source

Septic & composting toilets

RestrictedThe Onondaga County Health Department, Bureau of Public Health Engineering, reviews and permits all onsite wastewater/septic systems countywide and stamps all filed subdivision maps regardless of size. source

Greywater reuse

RestrictedNo county-specific greywater ordinance was found; OCHD directs permitting toward the New York State Residential Onsite Wastewater Treatment System Design Handbook when local standards don't exist. source

Rainwater harvesting

Generally allowedNo Onondaga County ordinance restricting rainwater harvesting was found; this appears to follow the general state baseline, but individual towns/villages should still be checked.

Private wells & water rights

Generally allowedThe county does not issue its own well permits; well construction follows New York State DOH/DEC standards. The Onondaga County Water Authority supplies public water but is not a well-permitting authority.

Living disconnected from utilities

Varies locallyNo countywide rule requiring connection to grid power or public water/sewer was found; whether a fully off-grid home is allowed depends on the specific town or village zoning and building code.

Open the full county page with sources →

Sun30-year normals

Peak-sun hours, annual average: 4.2 hrs/day
Worst month (sizes an off-grid array): 2.3 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels: 1,171 kWh

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Weather1991-2020

Precipitation: 42 in/yr
Heating degree days: 6,493 (cold)

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital Syracuse Veterans Affairs Medical Center: 8.5 mi
Fire station Manlius Fire Department: 1.2 mi
Hardware store Manlius True Value Hardware: 1.3 mi
Grocery Tops: 0.1 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 13104).

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 21, 2026; agencies update their layers on their own schedules. Planning data, not a survey or legal advice.