Off-grid site report

Hocking County, OH

39.5403, -82.4377 · 814 ft elevation
Read this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Hocking County, OH, 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 rulesHocking County, OH

Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Varies locallyHocking County has no countywide zoning code; the city of Logan zones within its limits, and some townships (like Hocking Township) have adopted their own zoning resolutions independently. The county Regional Planning Office administers subdivision, lot-split, and floodplain rules countywide regardless of township zoning status. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Varies locallyDwelling-type restrictions depend on township or Logan city zoning, not confirmed in detail at county level. The Hocking County Health Department issues building placement permits for residential homes outside Logan and outside licensed manufactured home parks; manufactured homes and commercial buildings go through the Ohio Department of Commerce instead.
Building permits & codes
Generally allowedThere's no separate county building department; the Health Department handles placement permits, plan review, and plumbing permits for new construction in the unincorporated county, plus a floodplain determination from Regional Planning. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedThe Health Department requires a permit, site/soil evaluation by a sanitarian, and installation by a registered sewage system installer (or a homeowner who passes an exam) for any septic system serving a dwelling. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNot confirmed at the county level; no Hocking County Health Department page addresses greywater reuse specifically, so the Ohio Department of Health's statewide framework likely applies with the county as the implementing authority. Confirm directly with the Health Department.
Rainwater harvesting
Varies locallyNo rainwater-specific county page was found, but the Health Department's private water systems program explicitly includes cisterns as a permitted category alongside wells, so rainwater-for-potable-use likely falls under that same permit process.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedThe Health Department requires a permit before installing or altering a private water system (wells, springs, cisterns, hauled water, ponds), then samples water and inspects construction; only licensed private water system contractors should be used.
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo county ordinance was found requiring connection to electric or public water/sewer utilities, but any dwelling still needs Health Department permits for its water and waste systems regardless of grid connection. Not confirmed beyond this.

Open the full county page with sources →

Sun30-year normals

Peak-sun hours, annual average
4.6 hrs/day
Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
2.6 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
1,287 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND

Weather1991-2020

Precipitation
42 in/yr
Heating degree days
5,835 (cold)
Frost-free season
May 2 to Oct 9

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital
Hocking Valley Community Hospital
0.7 mi
Fire station
Logan Fire Department
1.7 mi
Hardware store
Saving Hardware
1.6 mi
Grocery
Walmart Supercenter
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 43138).

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.