Off-grid site report
Modoc County, CA
41.4852, -120.4789 · 4,383 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Modoc County, CA, 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 rulesModoc County, CA
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Varies locallyModoc County has an adopted countywide Zoning Ordinance (Title 18) administered by the Planning Department and Planning Commission; raw-land occupancy without an approved dwelling depends on the zone district's permitted-use list. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Varies locallyZoning districts list single-family homes, mobile home parks, guest houses, and RV parks as permitted or conditional uses, meaning RV or mobile-home living as a permanent residence on raw land needs zoning clearance; specific tiny-home standards are not confirmed. source
Building permits & codes
RestrictedThe county's Building & Safety Department requires permits under the state Title 24 baseline for construction, electrical, and alternative-energy/solar systems. source
Septic & composting toilets
RestrictedModoc County Environmental Health issues septic permits under a county-specific LAMP reviewed by the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board, requiring site evaluation and a site plan before installation. source
Greywater reuse
Generally allowedNo Modoc-specific greywater ordinance was found; the state California Plumbing Code Chapter 15 standard appears to govern by default, but local amendments are not confirmed. source
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedNo county-specific rainwater ordinance or permit requirement was found; the state Rainwater Capture Act baseline appears to apply, though this is not fully confirmed.
Private wells & water rights
RestrictedWell permits are issued by Modoc County Environmental Health after application, plot plan, and fees, with a final inspection required, consistent with state DWR construction standards layered under county permitting. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyThere's no dedicated county ordinance on off-grid/utility-disconnected living; it's governed indirectly through Building & Safety habitability permitting and Environmental Health septic/well permitting, with dedicated solar permitting forms available. source
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 5.6 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 3.4 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,595 kWh
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Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 12 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 16 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 6,699 (cold)
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Surprise Valley Hospital - 16.2 mi
- Fire station
CalFire Alturas Station - 2.9 mi
- Hardware store
Four Seasons Supply Center - 3.2 mi
- Grocery
Four Corners Market - 3.4 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 96101).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Modoc County, CA?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.