Off-grid site report
Letcher County, KY
37.1957, -82.6990 · 1,440 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Letcher County, KY, 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 rulesLetcher County, KY
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Unclear - verifyLetcher County has a Planning Commission that files land-use restrictions under KRS Chapter 100, but no published countywide zoning ordinance or map was found. Confirm parcel-specific rules with the Planning Commission or County Clerk. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyNo Letcher-specific rule on tiny homes, THOWs, or RV occupancy was found; the county falls back on the state Kentucky Residential Code (including Appendix Q) since there's no local building inspector for single-family homes. source
Building permits & codes
Varies locallyThe state Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction lists Letcher County as having no local building inspector, so single-family dwellings are generally exempt from mandatory state permit review while commercial projects go through DHBC directly. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedSeptic systems are permitted through the Letcher County Health Center (Kentucky River District Health Department) under the state's onsite sewage regulations; homeowners can obtain a permit to self-install after a site evaluation. source
Greywater reuse
Generally allowedNo Letcher-specific greywater ordinance was found; the county follows the statewide onsite sewage disposal standards administered through the local health department. source
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedNo county ordinance restricting rainwater harvesting for non-potable use was found; this appears to follow the state baseline with no added local permit scheme.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedNo Letcher-specific well ordinance was found; well construction and abandonment follow the state requirement that a Kentucky Certified Water Well Driller perform the work, with the local Health Center as the water-quality contact.
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo official Letcher County document was found either requiring or prohibiting off-grid utility disconnection; the lack of countywide zoning and local building inspection suggests flexibility but this is not affirmatively confirmed. source
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 4.7 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 3.2 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,277 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 46 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 42 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 5,315 (moderate)
- Frost-free season
- May 1 to Oct 12
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Whitesburg ARH Hospital - 8.4 mi
- Fire station
Jenkins Volunteer Fire Department - 3.9 mi
- Hardware store
Modern Hardware and Furniture Co. - 13.7 mi
- Grocery
Saba Market - 7.4 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 41810).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Letcher County, KY?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.
New here, or not sure where this fits? Start here walks through the whole thing in order.