Off-grid site report
Prince George County, VA
37.2193, -77.2669 · 138 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Prince George 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 rulesPrince George County, VA
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
RestrictedPrince George County has countywide zoning under Chapter 90 of the County Code, enforced by the Planning and Zoning Department; agricultural districts like R-A set setbacks and lot dimension rules. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Largely prohibitedThe county's zoning ordinance explicitly prohibits living in an RV or camper permanently, or during home construction, anywhere except approved campgrounds; tiny houses on wheels would likely fall under this same rule, per the Planning and Zoning Department. source
Building permits & codes
Generally allowedBuilding permits are mandatory and administered by the county's Building Inspections Division, enforcing the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code; the county requires well and septic permits before issuing a building permit. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedSeptic systems are permitted and inspected by the Virginia Department of Health through the local Prince George Health Department, which also does soil evaluations before the county will approve a building permit. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNo Prince George County-specific greywater ordinance was found; this falls back to the Virginia state baseline regulated by the State Board of Health, so confirm current application with the local health department.
Rainwater harvesting
Unclear - verifyNo county-specific rainwater harvesting rule was found; Virginia's statewide rain-barrel exemption and VDH permitting for larger or potable systems would apply as the baseline. Confirm with the county health department.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedPrivate wells are permitted and regulated by the Virginia Department of Health, with the Prince George Health Department handling local permitting and inspection as part of the building permit process. source
Living disconnected from utilities
RestrictedNo standalone law forces a grid hookup, but the county's ban on permanent RV/camper living and its requirement that every dwelling have approved well and septic make full off-grid living difficult in practice; solar is allowed as an accessory use under the zoning ordinance. source
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 5.1 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 3.7 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,408 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 46 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 4 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 3,150 (moderate)
- Frost-free season
- Mar 29 to Nov 8
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Bon Secours - Southside Regional Medical Center - 5.7 mi
- Fire station
Prince George Fire / Emergency Medical Services - 1.1 mi
- Hardware store
The Home Depot - 7.7 mi
- Grocery
Food Lion - 2.8 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 23875).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Prince George 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.