Off-grid site report
Santa Rosa County, FL
30.3895, -87.0653 · 26 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Santa Rosa 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 rulesSanta Rosa County, FL
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
RestrictedSanta Rosa County's Land Development Code, administered by Planning & Zoning under Development Services, sets allowed uses, setbacks, and density countywide outside incorporated towns like Milton, Gulf Breeze, and Jay. Those towns apply their own codes instead. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
RestrictedCounty ordinance history treats RVs and mobile homes as temporary housing (hardship, disaster, or seasonal use in specific agricultural districts) rather than general full-time dwellings; permanent off-grid living generally requires a site-built dwelling meeting zoning standards. source
Building permits & codes
RestrictedThe Florida Building Code is enforced locally by Santa Rosa County's building inspections and floodplain management staff; nearly all structures need a permit or documented exemption, applied for through the county's online portal. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedSeptic (OSTDS) is required where sewer isn't available; as of January 2025 the Florida DEP, not the county health department, handles new septic permitting for Santa Rosa County. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNo Santa Rosa County-specific greywater ordinance was found; this defaults to the state Florida Building Code baseline, which limits greywater reuse to toilet/urinal flushing. Confirm directly with Development Services.
Rainwater harvesting
Unclear - verifyNo county or state page specifically addressing residential rainwater cisterns was found for Santa Rosa County; treat as unconfirmed and check with Development Services before relying on it.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedWell construction permitting in Santa Rosa County is not delegated to the county health department; it runs through Florida DEP's statewide rules and the Northwest Florida Water Management District. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo explicit Santa Rosa County ordinance bans or permits full utility disconnection, but any occupied dwelling still needs an approved septic system and building code compliance before it can be occupied legally. source
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 5.4 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 3.9 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,507 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 65 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 0 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 1,537 (mild)
- Frost-free season
- Feb 19 to Dec 8
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Gulf Breeze Hospital - 5.9 mi
- Fire station
Escambia County Fire Station #13 - 4.6 mi
- Hardware store
Lowe's - 0.2 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 32563).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Santa Rosa 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.