Off-grid site report

White Pine County, NV

39.2476, -114.8890 · 6,464 ft elevation

Read this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for White Pine County, NV, 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 rulesWhite Pine County, NV

Zoning & raw-land occupancy

Varies locallyWhite Pine County has an adopted Title 17 Zoning code administered by the county Building Department for unincorporated land; allowed uses depend on the specific zoning district, and that detail isn't confirmed in available excerpts. Inside Ely city limits, the City, not the county, handles zoning. source

Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs

Varies locallyCounty code defines and regulates manufactured and modular homes specifically, including a residential-zone chapter and flood-zone foundation rules; there's no distinct tiny-home category, and RV-as-residence rules aren't confirmed, so ask the Building Department. source

Building permits & codes

Generally allowedThe county has adopted the 2018 International code family plus the 2011 National Electrical Code, and the Building Department issues permits and inspections for unincorporated construction; permit cost is valuation-based, exact fees not published in these notes. source

Septic & composting toilets

Generally allowedWhite Pine is a state-permitted 'rural county,' so individual sewage disposal systems are approved by the Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health under NAC Chapter 444, and that approval must precede any building permit needing an ISDS. source

Greywater reuse

Unclear - verifyNo county or DPBH page specifically addressing residential greywater reuse was found; confirm with DPBH Environmental Health or the county Building Department.

Rainwater harvesting

Generally allowedNevada's statewide law (AB 138) allows rooftop rainwater collection, and no White Pine County ordinance adding restrictions was found.

Private wells & water rights

Generally allowedWells and water rights are handled by the state Division of Water Resources, with well logs required as part of septic permit applications tied to a well; no separate county permitting layer was found. source

Living disconnected from utilities

Generally allowedNo county ordinance bars disconnecting from the grid, but occupancy approval is tied to having a state-approved ISDS in place if you're not on sewer, and the adopted building code still applies to any structure.

Open the full county page with sources →

Sun30-year normals

Peak-sun hours, annual average: 6.0 hrs/day
Worst month (sizes an off-grid array): 4.5 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels: 1,720 kWh

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Weather1991-2020

Precipitation: 10 in/yr
Snowfall: 51 in/yr
Heating degree days: 7,523 (severe)

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital William Bee Ririe Hospital: 1.7 mi
Fire station Ely Fire Department: 1.2 mi
Hardware store Ace Hardware: 2.0 mi
Grocery Ridley's Family Markets: 0.9 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 89301).

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.