Off-grid site report

Lyon County, KS

38.3695, -95.9919 · 1,109 ft elevation

Read this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Lyon County, KS, 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 rulesLyon County, KS

Zoning & raw-land occupancy

Varies locallyLyon County adopted formal countywide zoning via a 2020 Board of County Commissioners resolution, enforced only in unincorporated areas. Incorporated towns like Emporia use their own planning departments instead. source

Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs

Varies locallyCounty zoning code specifically defines and regulates manufactured homes and RVs, including parking requirements, but tiny home occupancy rules are not confirmed in official text. source

Building permits & codes

RestrictedLyon County Planning and Zoning issues building permits for new construction, and floodplain areas require additional permits, potentially involving the Kansas Department of Agriculture Division of Water Resources. source

Septic & composting toilets

RestrictedLyon County has its own Sanitation Code (adopted 2004) administered by Lyon County Public Health's Environmental Health division, which permits and evaluates private sewage systems. Composting toilets are not separately addressed in confirmed county text. source

Greywater reuse

Unclear - verifyNo Lyon County-specific greywater rule was found; it likely falls under the county Sanitation Code and state KDHE standards, but this is not confirmed. Ask Lyon County Public Health Environmental Health.

Rainwater harvesting

Generally allowedNo Lyon County restriction was found on rainwater harvesting, so it appears to follow the general Kansas state baseline allowing domestic collection.

Private wells & water rights

Varies locallyLyon County Public Health Environmental Health evaluates domestic water supplies and handles abandoned well plugging, but whether Lyon County specifically requires a well permit was not confirmed; KDHE notes many Kansas counties do require one. source

Living disconnected from utilities

Unclear - verifyNo explicit Lyon County ordinance requiring connection to public utilities for occupancy was found; any requirement would likely come indirectly through the Sanitation Code's wastewater system rules.

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): 3.9 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels: 1,494 kWh

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Weather1991-2020

Precipitation: 36 in/yr
Heating degree days: 4,821 (moderate)
Frost-free season: Apr 10 to Oct 23

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital Newman Regional Health Center: 11.4 mi
Fire station Lyon County Fire District 5 Station 2: 0.1 mi
Hardware store Blustem Farm and Ranch: 12.3 mi
Grocery Dillons: 10.0 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 66864).

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.