Off-grid site report
Sumter County, FL
28.6681, -82.1392 · 82 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Sumter County, FL, 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 rulesSumter County, FL
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
RestrictedSumter County has a countywide Land Development Code (Chapter 13) and Future Land Use Map with a septic-suitability 'Constrained Lands' overlay that can further limit buildable use on raw land. Administered by the Board of County Commissioners. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyNo county-specific minimum home size or RV-as-permanent-dwelling rule was confirmed; mobile homes are a distinct permit category with Building Services. Ask Sumter County Building Services directly. source
Building permits & codes
RestrictedBuilding permits are required and enforced locally by Sumter County Building Services under the Florida Building Code, including an owner-builder disclosure process. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedOSTDS (septic) permits can now be applied for through Sumter County Building Services alongside building permits; statewide the program is transitioning from DOH to DEP but that hasn't fully reached Sumter yet. Composting toilets aren't separately addressed, so the standard state framework likely applies. source
Greywater reuse
RestrictedNo Sumter County ordinance loosens the state rule, so greywater reuse is limited to toilet/urinal flushing through an approved system under Florida's baseline.
Rainwater harvesting
Unclear - verifyNo county or SWFWMD page specifically addresses residential rainwater catchment; not confirmed either way.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedPrivate wells are regulated by the Southwest Florida Water Management District, which requires a Well Construction Permit before drilling; this is a regional, not county, process. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo Sumter County ordinance explicitly bans or permits full utility disconnection; an approved sewage disposal method is still required regardless.
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 5.6 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 4.7 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,561 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 53 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 0 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 605 (mild)
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
HCA Florida Citrus Hospital - 16.5 mi
- Fire station
Bushnell Fire Department Station 11 - 1.7 mi
- Hardware store
Floral City Hardware - 11.1 mi
- Grocery
Walmart Supercenter - 0.2 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 33513).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Sumter County, FL?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 21, 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.