Off-grid site report

Lewis County, WV

39.1007, -80.3951 · 1,020 ft elevation
Read this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Lewis County, WV, 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 rulesLewis County, WV

Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Varies locallyNo official Lewis County zoning ordinance for unincorporated land was found. Weston has adopted its own zoning chapter (Chapter 157) under state Chapter 8A enabling authority; Jane Lew may also have local rules. Outside Weston/Jane Lew, zoning appears absent. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyNo Lewis County or Weston source specifically addresses RV or tiny-home occupancy standards. This is not confirmed either way; check with Weston's Zoning Officer if inside city limits, or the County Commission otherwise.
Building permits & codes
Unclear - verifyNo official Lewis County webpage describing a countywide building-permit process was found. Weston, as an incorporated town, administers its own permits under its municipal code. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedThe Lewis County Health Department, under the state Bureau for Public Health, permits septic systems countywide: application, sanitarian site approval with water/dye testing, construction permit, and final inspection before covering the system.
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNo dedicated Lewis County greywater page was found; it appears greywater disposal is folded into the same Health Department sewage-system approval process rather than treated separately.
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedNo Lewis County or state source restricts collecting rainwater for non-potable use, so this appears unregulated, consistent with the state baseline.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedThe Lewis County Health Department facilitates private well water testing, starting with coliform bacteria screening. Actual well drilling and driller certification is a state-level function, not handled at the county level.
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo Lewis County or Weston rule was found requiring hookup to grid utilities; off-grid living appears governed indirectly through septic and well compliance rather than a direct utility mandate.

Open the full county page with sources →

Sun30-year normals

Peak-sun hours, annual average
4.6 hrs/day
Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
2.7 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
1,248 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND

Weather1991-2020

Precipitation
49 in/yr
Heating degree days
5,424 (moderate)

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital
Stonewall Jackson Memorial Hospital
6.4 mi
Fire station
Jane Lew Fire Department
0.8 mi
Hardware store
Lost Creek Farmers Service
4.7 mi
Grocery
Dollar General
0.4 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 26378).

Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt

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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.