Off-grid site report

Jackson County, MS

30.3795, -88.5260 · 20 ft elevation

Read this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Jackson County, MS, 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 rulesJackson County, MS

Zoning & raw-land occupancy

Varies locallyJackson County has a countywide Zoning Ordinance administered by the Zoning Department for unincorporated areas; incorporated cities (Pascagoula, Gautier, Moss Point, Ocean Springs) have separate zoning. District-specific rules for off-grid or raw-land occupancy were not confirmed. source

Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs

RestrictedMobile homes require a formal Placement Permit tied to zoning, building, fire, plumbing, and electrical codes, plus a wastewater site evaluation. Treatment of tiny homes on wheels is not confirmed; ask the Building Department. source

Building permits & codes

RestrictedThe county Building Department enforces the 2018 International Building Code for new construction and issues residential, mobile home, and commercial permits. source

Septic & composting toilets

Generally allowedSeptic systems go through a state (Mississippi Dept. of Health) application and local perc-test/site-evaluation process run by the Jackson County Health Department. Composting toilet specifics are not confirmed. source

Greywater reuse

RestrictedNo Jackson County greywater ordinance was found, and Mississippi has no statewide greywater framework, so greywater is effectively treated like wastewater requiring an approved system.

Rainwater harvesting

Generally allowedNo county restriction on rainwater harvesting was found in zoning, building, or health department sources; state baseline appears permissive, though cistern structure setbacks are not confirmed.

Private wells & water rights

Generally allowedWells are referenced through the county Health Department's site-evaluation role in mobile home permitting; specific county drilling permit or setback rules were not confirmed beyond that, so state licensed-driller rules likely apply. source

Living disconnected from utilities

RestrictedNo county ordinance addressing full off-grid electrical disconnection was found; mobile home permitting references NEC-compliant grid hookup specs, implying an expectation of utility service for permitted placements. source

Open the full county page with sources →

Sun30-year normals

Peak-sun hours, annual average: 5.5 hrs/day
Worst month (sizes an off-grid array): 4.0 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels: 1,537 kWh

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Weather1991-2020

Precipitation: 65 in/yr
Snowfall: 0 in/yr
Heating degree days: 1,860 (mild)
Frost-free season: Mar 2 to Nov 29

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital Singing River Hospital: 0.5 mi
Fire station Pascagoula Fire Department: 1.6 mi
Hardware store Lowe's: 0.1 mi
Grocery Walmart Supercenter: 0.7 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 39581).

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 22, 2026; agencies update their layers on their own schedules. Planning data, not a survey or legal advice.