Off-grid site report

Wayne County, NY

43.2209, -77.2830 · 433 ft elevation

Read this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Wayne County, NY, 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 rulesWayne County, NY

Zoning & raw-land occupancy

Varies locallyNew York State leaves zoning to local governments, so each Wayne County town and village sets its own zoning districts and land-use rules; the county Planning Department only coordinates and advises. source

Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs

Unclear - verifyNo Wayne County or specific town page was found confirming rules for tiny homes or RVs as permanent dwellings; building permit administration is handled by each town under the NYS Uniform Code, so ask your town's code enforcement office directly. source

Building permits & codes

RestrictedBuilding permits follow the NYS Uniform Code but are issued and enforced by individual town Code Enforcement offices (e.g., the Town of Lyons), not by a single county building department. source

Septic & composting toilets

RestrictedThe Wayne County Department of Health's Environmental Health Unit permits and inspects septic systems under the NYS Sanitary Code (Appendix 75-A), including a seasonal approval window and a post-installation inspection before an operating permit issues. source

Greywater reuse

Unclear - verifyNo Wayne County or town-specific greywater ordinance was found; this likely falls back to New York State plumbing and sanitary code provisions, so confirm specifics with the county Health Department.

Rainwater harvesting

Generally allowedNo county-specific rainwater ordinance was found, so this appears to follow the state baseline allowing non-potable rainwater catchment; not independently confirmed by Wayne County.

Private wells & water rights

RestrictedThe Wayne County Health Department's Private Water Systems program requires a permit for new or altered wells, a site plan, and installation by a registered well contractor, consistent with state DOH standards. source

Living disconnected from utilities

Varies locallyNo countywide mandate requiring grid connection was found; whether a home can be fully off-grid depends on each town's own zoning and building code enforcement under the NYS Uniform Code.

Open the full county page with sources →

Sun30-year normals

Peak-sun hours, annual average: 4.2 hrs/day
Worst month (sizes an off-grid array): 1.8 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels: 1,168 kWh

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Weather1991-2020

Precipitation: 44 in/yr
Snowfall: 54 in/yr
Heating degree days: 6,513 (cold)
Frost-free season: Apr 15 to Nov 14
Design low: 2 °F

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital Highland Hospital: 17.3 mi
Fire station Penfield Fire Station No. 3: 8.9 mi
Hardware store Fairport Hardware: 11.2 mi
Grocery Tops: 0.4 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 14520).

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 21, 2026; agencies update their layers on their own schedules. Planning data, not a survey or legal advice.