Off-grid site report

Sanpete County, UT

39.1640, -111.8037 · 5,230 ft elevation

Read this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Sanpete County, UT, 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 rulesSanpete County, UT

Zoning & raw-land occupancy

RestrictedSanpete County has adopted a comprehensive Land Use Ordinance dividing the county into zones; raw-land occupancy (tents, yurts, RVs) is governed by whichever zone applies, and unrestricted living wasn't confirmed anywhere in the county. source

Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs

RestrictedSanpete County Planning & Zoning requires approval before construction; the agricultural exemption only covers structures used exclusively for agriculture, so residential dwellings including tiny homes go through standard permitting. RV-as-permanent-dwelling specifics are not confirmed on official pages. source

Building permits & codes

RestrictedThe county Building Department administers the state building code locally and requires permits for most structures, though a single storage shed up to 120 sq ft is reportedly exempt in all zones. A temporary construction moratorium applies to projects accessing Pine Creek Road, so check current status. source

Septic & composting toilets

RestrictedSeptic permits are issued not by the county but by the Central Utah Public Health Department, the joint district health department covering Sanpete and five neighboring counties under state law. source

Greywater reuse

RestrictedNo Sanpete-specific greywater ordinance was found; the county appears to inherit the state's standard permit-through-local-health-department framework, administered by the Central Utah Public Health Department. Not confirmed beyond that baseline.

Rainwater harvesting

Generally allowedNo county ordinance restricts rainwater collection beyond the statewide allowance, so the state baseline applies unchanged in Sanpete County.

Private wells & water rights

RestrictedWell permits are issued by the state, through the Utah Division of Water Rights' Richfield regional office, not the county; a valid water right and a state-issued Start Card are required before drilling. source

Living disconnected from utilities

Unclear - verifyNo official county page states whether occupancy requires grid utility hookup versus an approved well/septic-only setup; subdivision approvals have required power and septic confirmation letters, but that's not confirmed as a blanket rule for existing lots. Ask Planning & Zoning directly. source

Open the full county page with sources →

Sun30-year normals

Peak-sun hours, annual average: 5.8 hrs/day
Worst month (sizes an off-grid array): 3.9 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels: 1,660 kWh

JFMAMJJASOND

Weather1991-2020

Precipitation: 14 in/yr
Snowfall: 57 in/yr
Heating degree days: 6,454 (cold)
Frost-free season: May 16 to Oct 3

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital Gunnison Valley Hospital: 0.9 mi
Fire station Gunnison Valley Fire Station 6: 0.8 mi
Hardware store Ace Hardware: 1.3 mi
Grocery Gunnison Market: 1.6 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 84634).

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.