Off-grid site report
Benewah County, ID
47.2277, -116.7843 · 2,789 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Benewah County, ID, 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 rulesBenewah County, ID
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
RestrictedBenewah County administers its own Title 11 Land Use code through a Planning and Zoning Commission; a permit is required before changing land use or erecting structures. This is countywide regulation, not an unregulated rural area. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyNo official Benewah County code specifically addresses tiny homes or RV residency; a state IDAPA rule restricts these for licensed family homes only, which is not confirmed to apply to general off-grid residency. Confirm directly with the county Building Department. source
Building permits & codes
RestrictedThe county's Title 8 Building Regulations require permits and adopt building codes, and explicitly require septic approval from Panhandle Health District before a building permit can be issued. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedPanhandle Health District, the regional health authority, issues all subsurface sewage disposal permits and also permits composting/incinerator toilets; the county requires PHD septic approval before issuing a building permit. source
Greywater reuse
RestrictedNo Benewah-specific greywater ordinance was found; it appears to fall under PHD's general sewage disposal permitting authority inherited from state rules. Ask PHD how they classify greywater systems. source
Rainwater harvesting
Unclear - verifyNo county or PHD page addresses residential rainwater collection specifically; this is unresolved at both the county and state level.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedWell drilling permits are issued by the state (Idaho Department of Water Resources), with no distinct county well-permitting layer found; PHD reviews water/waste suitability mainly for subdivisions. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo standalone Benewah County ordinance explicitly permits or bans off-grid utility living; it is addressed indirectly through septic-before-building-permit rules and general Title 8/Title 11 permitting. source
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 4.3 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 1.9 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,199 kWh
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Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 26 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 43 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 7,127 (cold)
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Gritman Medical Center - 36.0 mi
- Fire station
Plummer Fire Department - 8.6 mi
- Hardware store
Benewah Ace Hardware - 8.9 mi
- Grocery
Benewah Family Foods - 8.9 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 83870).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Benewah County, ID?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.