Off-grid site report
Greeley County, NE
41.5487, -98.5308 · 2,031 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Greeley County, NE, 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 rulesGreeley County, NE
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
RestrictedGreeley County has adopted countywide zoning regulations administered by the County Zoning Administrator, including a Rural Conservation district and special use/variance/subdivision review. Village extraterritorial jurisdictions (one mile around Greeley, Spalding, Scotia, Wolbach) apply village rules instead. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Varies locallyA claimed 900 sq ft minimum size for the county is not confirmed on any official page. Confirmed state-level rule: manufactured homes need HUD/Uniform Standard Code seals and can be held to site-built foundation/utility/setback/size standards by the county board. source
Building permits & codes
Varies locallyThe county Planning & Zoning office issues building permits, floodplain development permits, and enforces setbacks; the exact adopted code edition wasn't confirmed, so check with that office directly. source
Septic & composting toilets
RestrictedNo county-specific septic ordinance was found; septic permitting statewide is handled by the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy under Title 124, which Greeley County inherits as its baseline. source
Greywater reuse
RestrictedNo county-specific greywater rule exists; the state NDEE Title 124 framework restricts untreated greywater discharge and this is the baseline for the county. source
Rainwater harvesting
Unclear - verifyNo Greeley County rule on rainwater harvesting was found, and no general state prohibition either, so this is genuinely unsettled; ask the county for clarification if it matters to your plans.
Private wells & water rights
RestrictedGreeley County sits within the Lower Loup Natural Resources District's Phase I Ground Water Management Area, requiring an LLNRD permit for any well pumping over 50 gallons per minute; smaller domestic wells fall under state DHHS well-construction standards instead.
Living disconnected from utilities
Varies locallyNo Greeley County ordinance mandating grid or sewer hookup was found; off-grid living appears conditioned mainly on septic/well permitting and, in flood-prone areas, the county's floodplain development permit. source
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 5.2 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 3.5 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,492 kWh
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Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 27 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 26 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 6,917 (cold)
- Frost-free season
- May 4 to Sep 29
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Valley County Health System - 21.6 mi
- Fire station
Greeley Fire Hall - 0.1 mi
- Hardware store
Quick's Ace Hardware - 20.9 mi
- Grocery
Country Market - 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 68842).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Greeley County, NE?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 22, 2026; agencies update their layers on their own schedules. Planning data, not a survey or legal advice.