Off-grid site report
Franklin County, VA
36.8293, -79.9917 · 935 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Franklin County, VA, 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 rulesFranklin County, VA
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Varies locallyFranklin County has countywide zoning under Chapter 25 of the county code, and permitted uses vary a lot by district, so what you can do on raw land depends entirely on the parcel's zoning designation. Some parcels are marked 'NZ' (not zoned), which changes the picture; check with the County Planning & Community Development office for your specific parcel. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
RestrictedThe county's zoning ordinance treats RVs, campers, and similar units as prohibited for permanent living in most residential districts, and staff have said this restriction has long been in the code; you can live in an RV temporarily only while actively building your main house. Tiny homes on permanent foundations are treated as regular dwellings under the state building code, while tiny homes on wheels are treated like RVs. source
Building permits & codes
Generally allowedFranklin County administers the state Uniform Statewide Building Code and requires a building permit for construction, alteration, or demolition of structures, plus a separate land use permit for new buildings outside town limits. Locally relevant specs include an 18-inch frost line and intermediate radon zone designation; confirm timelines and specifics with the Building Inspections office. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedAny property not on public sewer needs a Virginia Department of Health permit for a sewage disposal system before the county will issue a building permit, and Franklin County's own Septic Program Ordinance requires pump-out or inspection every five years, with extra registration required for systems near Smith Mountain Lake. Composting toilets aren't separately addressed locally, so they'd fall under the same state soil evaluation and health department process, worth confirming with the health department. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyI couldn't find a Franklin County-specific greywater ordinance; this appears to fall back to Virginia's statewide Sewage Handling and Disposal Regulations administered through the local health department. Confirm with the Franklin County Health Department / West Piedmont Health District before setting up any greywater system. source
Rainwater harvesting
Unclear - verifyNo county-level rainwater harvesting ordinance turned up in the research; rainwater systems, especially larger or non-potable ones, are handled through Virginia's state Tier 4 permitting and registration process via VDH. Check with the health department on whether your setup needs state registration. source
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedPrivate wells are permitted through the Franklin County Health Department (part of the West Piedmont Health District) working with the Virginia Department of Health, usually issued alongside a septic permit, and applications typically require support from a DPOR-licensed consultant. Note a draft 2026 zoning rewrite reportedly would add well-use restrictions aimed at data centers, not individual residents, but that's not yet enacted, so confirm current status with the health department. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyThere's no Franklin County ordinance found that explicitly requires or bans staying off the electric grid, but functionally you still need an approved well/septic system and a valid building permit or certificate of occupancy to legally occupy a dwelling, so full self-sufficiency without those approvals isn't an option. Confirm details on occupancy requirements with the Building Inspections office. source
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 5.0 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 3.6 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,377 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 47 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 4,315 (moderate)
- Frost-free season
- Apr 15 to Oct 28
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Sovah Health - Martinsville - 11.3 mi
- Fire station
Henry Volunteer Fire Department Company 14 - 2.3 mi
- Hardware store
Lowe's - 10.7 mi
- Grocery
Food Lion - 6.3 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 24102).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Franklin County, VA?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 22, 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.