Off-grid site report

Winston County, MS

33.2176, -88.9837 · 528 ft elevation

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

Zoning & raw-land occupancy

Varies locallyWinston County itself has no countywide zoning ordinance, so unincorporated land is effectively unzoned. Inside Louisville or Noxapater city limits, the town's own zoning authority governs, so check with the relevant city hall if your parcel is inside those limits. source

Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs

Unclear - verifyI couldn't find an official Winston County document addressing tiny homes or RV occupancy directly. Since the county lacks a general zoning code for unincorporated land, this is a question for the Board of Supervisors or, if inside city limits, Louisville or Noxapater's zoning office.

Building permits & codes

Unclear - verifyThere's no confirmed countywide building-permit requirement for unincorporated Winston County on any official source I found. Mississippi doesn't enforce a uniform statewide code, so cities like Louisville and Noxapater adopt their own, and you should call the county departments directory to confirm whether the county itself has any permitting authority outside those towns. source

Septic & composting toilets

Generally allowedSeptic systems are permitted and regulated statewide by the Mississippi State Department of Health, and Winston County is confirmed on MSDH's list of covered counties. You'll need an MSDH construction permit, a licensed installer, and an MSDH inspection before backfilling. source

Greywater reuse

RestrictedNo Winston County-specific greywater ordinance exists, so it falls under the state's onsite wastewater permitting scheme administered by MSDH rather than any separate greywater framework. source

Rainwater harvesting

Generally allowedNo Winston County rule restricts rainwater harvesting, so the state default applies and it's permitted as far as I could confirm.

Private wells & water rights

Generally allowedPrivate wells are permitted, with well construction standards and groundwater matters handled by the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality at the state level; no distinct Winston County water authority was found.

Living disconnected from utilities

RestrictedNo Winston County-specific ordinance on disconnecting from utilities was found, so this defaults to the general Mississippi baseline where full electrical disconnection can be restricted for certain systems. Confirm with the Board of Supervisors or your city if inside Louisville or Noxapater.

Open the full county page with sources →

Sun30-year normals

Peak-sun hours, annual average: 5.2 hrs/day
Worst month (sizes an off-grid array): 3.8 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels: 1,388 kWh

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Weather1991-2020

Precipitation: 58 in/yr
Snowfall: 1 in/yr
Heating degree days: 2,889 (mild)
Frost-free season: Mar 27 to Nov 11

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital Winston Medical Center: 7.2 mi
Fire station Sturgis Volunteer Fire Station: 9.4 mi
Hardware store Taylor Construction Equipment: 7.3 mi
Grocery Piggly Wiggly: 7.1 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 39339).

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.