Off-grid site report
Warren County, KY
36.9246, -86.5019 · 591 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Warren 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 rulesWarren County, KY
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
RestrictedWarren County has adopted a joint zoning ordinance administered by the City-County Planning Commission of Warren County (CCPC), covering both unincorporated areas and cities within the county. Check with CCPC what district your parcel is in before assuming any use is allowed. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Varies locallyMobile/manufactured homes are addressed with specific district standards and a Kentucky 'B' Seal requirement; tiny-house-specific rules were not confirmed, so ask CCPC directly how they'd classify one.
Building permits & codes
RestrictedWarren County Division for Building Services enforces the Kentucky Building/Residential Codes and National Electric Code for construction outside Bowling Green and Oakland; those cities handle their own permits. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedBarren River District Health Department conducts soil evaluations, reviews plans, issues septic permits, and inspects installations under state regulations. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNo Warren County or Barren River District Health Department page specifically addresses greywater separate from septic; confirm directly with the health department using the state baseline.
Rainwater harvesting
Unclear - verifyNo county ordinance was found restricting rainwater collection for non-potable use, so the state baseline of no dedicated restriction applies, but this is not confirmed locally.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedPrivate wells not connected to the public system follow the state baseline requiring a Kentucky Certified Water Well driller; connecting to Warren County Water District requires a separate state plumbing permit for any homeowner plumbing work.
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo Warren County ordinance mandates connection to public water, sewer, or grid power, but the county still enforces building code for sanitation and wiring on any occupied dwelling; certificate-of-occupancy requirements were not confirmed. source
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 4.8 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 3.1 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,338 kWh
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Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 50 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 9 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 4,047 (moderate)
- Frost-free season
- Apr 9 to Oct 27
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
TriStar Greenview Regional Hospital - 4.5 mi
- Fire station
Bowling Green Fire Department - 1.5 mi
- Hardware store
Lowe's - 3.9 mi
- Grocery
Kroger - 3.1 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 42104).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Warren 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.