Off-grid site report
Henry County, VA
36.6149, -80.0309 · 906 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Henry County, VA, 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 rulesHenry County, VA
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Generally allowedHenry County exercises countywide zoning through its Department of Planning, Zoning & Inspections; raw-land use and dwelling siting depend on the parcel's zoning district. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyNo Henry County-specific ordinance on tiny homes or long-term RV occupancy was found; the county references the state residential building code, and RVs generally count as vehicles, not dwellings, under Virginia's baseline. Confirm directly with Planning, Zoning & Inspections. source
Building permits & codes
Generally allowedHenry County's Building Inspection division administers the Uniform Statewide Building Code and issues permits for new construction, additions, and manufactured home placement countywide. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedSeptic and onsite sewage permitting is handled by the Virginia Department of Health's Southside Health District, not a separate Henry County health office; a permit is required before the county issues a building permit. source
Greywater reuse
Generally allowedNo Henry County-specific greywater rule was found; this inherits Virginia's statewide Board of Health greywater reuse regulations administered through VDH. source
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedNo county-specific rule found; rainwater harvesting is addressed at the state level, with VDH offering a registration process for non-potable systems. source
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedPrivate wells are permitted through VDH, which sets siting, setback, and construction requirements; the Henry County PSA is a separate, optional utility for those near its lines. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo Henry County ordinance was found requiring connection to the electric grid or to PSA water/sewer, but an approved water source and sewage disposal system (well/septic via VDH) are required before the county issues a building permit or occupancy approval. source
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 5.1 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 3.8 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,414 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 45 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 6 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 4,455 (moderate)
- Frost-free season
- Apr 26 to Oct 17
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Sovah Health - Martinsville - 10.8 mi
- Fire station
Horsepasture Volunteer Rescue Squad - 4.0 mi
- Hardware store
Lowe's - 8.8 mi
- Grocery
Walmart Supercenter - 9.0 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 24165).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Henry County, VA?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.