Off-grid site report

Kittitas County, WA

46.9838, -120.4183 · 1,650 ft elevation

Read this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Kittitas County, WA, 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 rulesKittitas County, WA

Zoning & raw-land occupancy

Varies locallyKittitas County (not the towns) sets countywide zoning under Title 17, with minimum lot sizes and allowed uses varying sharply by zone (e.g., 5 acres in Agriculture-5, much larger in Forest & Range). New rural density is tied to water availability. source

Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs

RestrictedKittitas County's building code (Title 14) bars RVs from being used as permanent residences outside specific exceptions, requires disconnection from utilities when not in use, and heavily restricts park model trailers and non-HUD factory housing. No county exemption for tiny houses on wheels was confirmed. source

Building permits & codes

Generally allowedThe county enforces state building code locally, but a certificate of occupancy requires final sign-off from Kittitas County Public Health on both potable water and sewage disposal. source

Septic & composting toilets

Generally allowedKittitas County Public Health Department administers the state OSS rule (WAC 246-272A) locally, requiring a site evaluation and permit; homeowner self-installation is allowed, though commercial installers need a county license. source

Greywater reuse

Unclear - verifyNo county-specific greywater ordinance was confirmed; the state WAC 246-274 baseline likely applies through the county health department, but this is not confirmed locally, so ask Kittitas County Public Health directly.

Rainwater harvesting

Unclear - verifyNo Kittitas County ordinance on rainwater harvesting was found; state Department of Ecology policy presumably governs, but no county-specific rule is confirmed.

Private wells & water rights

RestrictedKittitas County, especially in the Yakima River Basin, requires Water Budget Neutral mitigation and metering for most new groundwater uses, plus an Adequate Water Supply Determination for most building permits, well beyond the standard state exempt-well rule. source

Living disconnected from utilities

Unclear - verifyNo standalone ban on off-grid living exists, but building occupancy and RV rules functionally require documented water and septic approval, making full utility disconnection difficult to achieve legally. source

Open the full county page with sources →

Sun30-year normals

Peak-sun hours, annual average: 4.9 hrs/day
Worst month (sizes an off-grid array): 1.7 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels: 1,369 kWh

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Weather1991-2020

Precipitation: 9 in/yr
Snowfall: 21 in/yr
Heating degree days: 6,623 (cold)
Frost-free season: May 5 to Oct 1

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital Kittitas Valley Community Hospital: 5.7 mi
Fire station Kittitas Valley Fire & Rescue Station 25: 0.0 mi
Hardware store Knudson's Lumber: 4.9 mi
Grocery Safeway: 5.9 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 98934).

Size a solar system Heat loss & insulation Firewood per winter Rainwater harvest Garden size Panel tilt

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.