Off-grid site report
Rich County, UT
41.9843, -111.3407 · 5,922 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Rich County, UT, 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 rulesRich County, UT
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
RestrictedRich County Planning & Zoning Department controls land use countywide, but the full Development Code text isn't published online; the county's stated approach is subdivision infrastructure before building permits. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyA non-official source claims Rich County bans permanent living in tiny homes on wheels, treating them only as RVs, but no official county document confirms this. Verify directly with Planning & Zoning.
Building permits & codes
RestrictedRich County requires building permits and inspections for most construction under the statewide IRC/IBC code, with possible added conditional use or subdivision approvals depending on the site. source
Septic & composting toilets
RestrictedThe Bear River Health Department, not the county, permits septic systems and evaluates whether land can support one; composting toilets are not addressed in any official document found. source
Greywater reuse
RestrictedNo Rich County-specific greywater rule was found; the statewide rule administered by local health departments (here, Bear River Health Department) is inherited by default. Not confirmed by a county-specific document.
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedNo Rich County restriction was found, so the statewide rule applies: collection up to 200 gallons unregistered, up to 2,500 gallons with free state registration.
Private wells & water rights
RestrictedWell drilling and water rights are controlled entirely by the State of Utah, and Rich County's own guidance refers residents directly to the state Division of Water Rights.
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyRich County has no standalone off-grid occupancy ordinance; its advisory materials note electrical service isn't guaranteed everywhere, but whether a certificate of occupancy can be issued without grid utilities isn't confirmed and should be asked of the Building Department directly. source
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 5.4 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 3.2 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,570 kWh
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Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 25 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 107 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 7,866 (severe)
- Frost-free season
- May 12 to Oct 17
- Design low
- 3 °F
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Bear Lake Memorial Hospital - 23.1 mi
- Fire station
- none within range
- Hardware store
Ace Hardware Garden City - 3.5 mi
- Grocery
Mike's Market - 3.6 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 84028).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Rich County, UT?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.