Off-grid site report
Nassau County, FL
30.6213, -81.5333 · 20 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Nassau County, FL, 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 rulesNassau County, FL
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Varies locallyUnincorporated Nassau County has countywide zoning under its Land Development Code (Ord. 97-19), administered by the county's Planning and Growth Management Department, with multiple residential and commercial districts. Whether raw-land camping or unpermitted occupancy is allowed depends on the specific district, so I'd confirm with county Planning & Zoning directly. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
RestrictedNassau County's code is explicit that an RV, mobile home, or manufactured home cannot be used as a dwelling without connecting to public water and sewer, or, where those aren't available, a well and septic system approved by the health department. Accessory dwellings also require a building permit under the Florida Building Code, administered by the county Building Department.
Building permits & codes
RestrictedAll structures, including accessory dwellings, need a building permit through the Nassau County Building Department under the statewide Florida Building Code. I found no county exemption for owner-built or off-grid homes. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedSeptic (OSTDS) permitting in Nassau County is handled locally by the Florida Department of Health in Nassau County's Environmental Health office, not by DEP directly, since Nassau isn't one of the counties where DEP took over permitting. Composting toilets and alternative systems fall under the statewide DOH rule (64E-6), which Nassau inherits rather than modifies. source
Greywater reuse
RestrictedI couldn't find any Nassau County-specific greywater ordinance, so the county appears to simply defer to Florida's statewide Building Code and Department of Health greywater rules. Ask the county Building Department or DOH Environmental Health office if you're planning a graywater reuse system.
Rainwater harvesting
Unclear - verifyNo Nassau County ordinance addressing residential rainwater harvesting turned up in my research. The St. Johns River Water Management District, which covers Nassau County, actively supports non-potable rainwater catchment projects regionally, but I found nothing specific to household cisterns, so I'd call the county or SJRWMD to confirm before relying on it as a primary water source.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedPrivate wells are allowed and fall under the St. Johns River Water Management District's rules for well construction and water use, with the Nassau County Department of Health's Environmental Health office handling well/water sampling and safe drinking water oversight out of its Yulee office. source
Living disconnected from utilities
RestrictedFor RVs and mobile/manufactured homes, the county explicitly requires either a public utility hookup or a DOH-approved well and septic system, so full disconnection from all infrastructure isn't an option for those dwelling types. For conventional site-built homes, I found no explicit rule either permitting or forbidding total off-grid disconnection, so that piece is not confirmed and worth a direct call to the county.
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 5.3 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 4.5 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,449 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 49 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 1,215 (mild)
- Frost-free season
- Feb 4 to Dec 27
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Baptist Medical Center Nassau - 5.4 mi
- Fire station
Fire Station 70 - 1.2 mi
- Hardware store
The Home Depot - 1.1 mi
- Grocery
Walmart Supercenter - 0.1 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 32041).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Nassau County, FL?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.