Off-grid site report

Klickitat County, WA

45.8151, -121.1543 · 495 ft elevation

Read this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Klickitat County, WA, 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 rulesKlickitat County, WA

Zoning & raw-land occupancy

Varies locallyKlickitat County has a countywide Zoning Ordinance administered by the Planning Department; what's allowed on raw land depends on the specific zone, so check the county zoning map before assuming you can camp or build. source

Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs

Unclear - verifyNo county page specifically addresses tiny houses on wheels or long-term RV occupancy as a dwelling; absent a county-specific rule, the state baseline (RCW 19.27.031, park-model RV classification) likely applies, but confirm with the Building Department. source

Building permits & codes

Generally allowedThe Klickitat County Building Department administers the state building code locally, requiring proof of wastewater disposal before a permit issues, permits even for well houses, address posting at the property entrance, and manufactured home installers to become L&I-certified 'Approved Homeowners.' source

Septic & composting toilets

Generally allowedKlickitat County, following state WAC 246-272A, lets homeowners design and self-install a simple gravity septic system after passing a Homeowner Installer Certification Exam; more complex sites need a licensed designer and installer, and septic permits are valid for only one year if unused. source

Greywater reuse

Unclear - verifyNo county-specific greywater ordinance was found; the state WAC 246-274 framework, enforced locally by Environmental Health as part of septic oversight, is the presumed baseline.

Rainwater harvesting

Unclear - verifyNo Klickitat County ordinance on rainwater harvesting was found, so the statewide Department of Ecology policy is the presumed baseline absent a contrary local rule.

Private wells & water rights

Varies locallyKlickitat County has its own Water Conservancy Board that can process water-right transfers locally; for exempt-well questions or anything the board doesn't cover, Washington Department of Ecology's Central Regional office is the point of contact. source

Living disconnected from utilities

Unclear - verifyThere's no standalone county ban on disconnecting from utilities, but the building permit prerequisites (proof of wastewater disposal, a legal water source) mean full off-grid living is only administratively possible if you satisfy septic, water, and building code requirements independently. source

Open the full county page with sources →

Sun30-year normals

Peak-sun hours, annual average: 4.9 hrs/day
Worst month (sizes an off-grid array): 2.0 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels: 1,360 kWh

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Weather1991-2020

Precipitation: 32 in/yr
Heating degree days: 6,942 (cold)

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital Adventist Health Columbia Gorge: 15.7 mi
Fire station Klickitat County Fire District 14: 6.7 mi
Hardware store The Home Depot: 13.5 mi
Grocery Lyle Market: 10.5 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 98628).

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.