Off-grid site report

Sumter County, AL

32.6112, -88.1823 · 180 ft elevation

Read this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Sumter County, AL, 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 rulesSumter County, AL

Zoning & raw-land occupancy

Varies locallyNo official Sumter County zoning ordinance was found; Alabama counties generally lack general zoning power absent specific enabling legislation. The county's Subdivision and Land Development Regulations (Sumter County Commission, under Code of Alabama 1975 § 11-24-3) govern plat/subdivision review, not general land use. source

Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs

Unclear - verifyNo Sumter County ordinance on tiny homes, RV occupancy, or minimum dwelling size was located. Not confirmed; ask the County Commission/Probate Judge's office directly.

Building permits & codes

Unclear - verifyNo dedicated Sumter County building department or adopted residential building code was found; a 'county license inspector' enforces subdivision development permits per the subdivision regulations, but this may not apply to ordinary single-family construction.

Septic & composting toilets

Generally allowedSeptic systems are permitted and administered through the Sumter County Health Department under the statewide Alabama Department of Public Health onsite sewage program. source

Greywater reuse

RestrictedNo Sumter County-specific greywater rule was found; inheriting the state baseline, ADPH regulates greywater disposal under its onsite sewage rules, and informal reuse without an approved system is not confirmed as permitted.

Rainwater harvesting

Generally allowedNo state or Sumter County rule was found restricting residential rainwater harvesting for non-potable use.

Private wells & water rights

Generally allowedNo Sumter County well ordinance was found; well construction is governed at the state level under ADEM's Water Well Standards Act, filed by the licensed driller.

Living disconnected from utilities

Generally allowedNo Sumter County ordinance requiring connection to public water, sewer, or electric utilities was found, so off-grid living is not prohibited by any identified county rule.

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): 3.6 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels: 1,398 kWh

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Weather1991-2020

Precipitation: 56 in/yr
Snowfall: 0 in/yr
Heating degree days: 2,613 (mild)
Frost-free season: Mar 30 to Nov 5

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital Hill Hospital of Sumter County: 10.6 mi
Fire station Epes Volunteer Fire Station: 6.5 mi
Hardware store: none within range
Grocery FoodLand: 0.3 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 35470).

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.