Off-grid site report
Pike County, KY
37.5058, -82.5385 · 669 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Pike 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 rulesPike County, KY
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Varies locallyThe Pikeville-Pike County-Elkhorn City Joint Planning Commission handles zoning and subdivision matters tied to Pikeville and Elkhorn City; no countywide zoning ordinance for unincorporated land was confirmed. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyNo Pike County ordinance on tiny homes or RV occupancy was found; Pikeville's city code covers zoning compliance within city limits only. Ask the Joint Planning Commission or DHBC about county-level rules. source
Building permits & codes
Varies locallyKentucky's Dept. of Housing, Buildings and Construction lists a Local Building Inspector for Pike County/Pikeville, so one- and two-family home construction is enforced locally under the Kentucky Residential Code; how far that reaches into unincorporated areas is not confirmed. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedThe Pike County Health Department requires an inspection and permit for septic systems, particularly on parcels under 3 acres, under Kentucky's On-Site Sewage Program. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNo Pike County ordinance specifically addresses greywater reuse; it falls back to the statewide baseline under 902 KAR 10:085.
Rainwater harvesting
Unclear - verifyNo standalone county rainwater ordinance was found; the only related county document is a septic-siting note about keeping roof drains away from the drain field, not a harvesting restriction.
Private wells & water rights
Unclear - verifyNo Pike County water district or ordinance imposing extra well permitting was found; statewide, wells must be drilled by a Kentucky Certified Water Well driller with no state permit fee noted.
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo Pike County ordinance requiring hookup to grid power, water, or sewer was found, but this absence of evidence is not confirmation of permission, according to the research reviewed. source
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 4.7 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 3.1 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,269 kWh
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Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 46 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 14 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 4,163 (moderate)
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Pikeville Medical Center - 2.6 mi
- Fire station
Saint Paul Fire Department - 0.7 mi
- Hardware store
Lowe's - 0.2 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 41501).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Pike 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.