Off-grid site report
Sweetwater County, WY
41.5288, -109.4688 · 6,103 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Sweetwater County, WY, 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 rulesSweetwater County, WY
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
RestrictedSweetwater County has countywide zoning under its 2015 Zoning Resolution (amended 2025), administered by the Land Use Department; only one permitted use/structure per lot in residential districts, and a Zoning Permit is generally required before building or land use changes. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Varies locallyManufactured and permanent-foundation homes plus accessory structures are recognized in the zoning code, but an accessory structure can't be occupied until the main permitted structure is approved for occupancy; specific ADU/tiny-home rules beyond this aren't confirmed from official sources, so confirm scope with Land Use staff.
Building permits & codes
RestrictedSweetwater County runs its own building permit program through the Land Use Department, unlike counties that rely solely on the state fire marshal; building without an approved permit application can trigger a late-application fee in addition to the standard fee. source
Septic & composting toilets
RestrictedThe Sweetwater County Environmental Health Department administers septic permitting locally, within Wyoming DEQ's statewide oversight framework; applicants get applications from that office and are directed to contact them with questions. source
Greywater reuse
Generally allowedNo Sweetwater County-specific greywater ordinance was found; this appears to default to Wyoming DEQ's statewide permit-by-rule approach, though this is not explicitly confirmed at the county level.
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedNo county ordinance restricting rainwater collection was found in the zoning resolution or on county department pages; this appears to follow the state's generally permissive stance, though not explicitly confirmed.
Private wells & water rights
RestrictedPrivate well construction is governed by the Wyoming State Engineer's Office, which the county's own zoning resolution explicitly defers to; within the mapped Growth Management Plan Boundary, occupied structures must instead connect to public water.
Living disconnected from utilities
Varies locallyOutside the county's Growth Management Plan Boundary, the zoning resolution doesn't require utility hookups, consistent with the state's tolerance for off-grid power; inside that boundary, occupied structures must be served by public water.
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 5.5 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 3.8 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,607 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 8 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 32 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 7,683 (severe)
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County - 12.7 mi
- Fire station
Fire Station #1 - 12.3 mi
- Hardware store
ACE Hardware - 0.9 mi
- Grocery
Smith's - 1.8 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 82935).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
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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.