Off-grid site report
White County, GA
34.5333, -83.6529 · 1,319 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for White County, GA, 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 rulesWhite County, GA
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
RestrictedWhite County has active countywide zoning through its Planning Department, which reviews land use, rezoning, conditional use, and variance requests; a pre-application meeting is required for these. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
RestrictedThe county requires a minimum of 672 square feet of heated space for a dwelling as of June 2023, and storage buildings/pole sheds cannot serve as residences. RV/THOW permanent occupancy is not confirmed; ask Planning/Building directly. source
Building permits & codes
Generally allowedThe Building Department requires permits and inspections (framing, plumbing, electrical, HVAC, driveway, erosion control) before issuing a Certificate of Occupancy; architect/engineer stamps are not required for standard homes under Georgia law. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedWhite County Environmental Health, under the Northeast Health District, permits and inspects septic systems under Georgia DPH statewide rules; stand-alone composting toilets are not addressed and should be confirmed with the office. source
Greywater reuse
Generally allowedNo county-specific greywater ordinance was found; this inherits the Georgia state baseline allowing simple, contained residential greywater reuse without a permit under certain conditions. source
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedNo White County-specific rainwater rule was found; treat as governed by the Georgia state plumbing code baseline, which generally permits rainwater harvesting.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedWhite County Environmental Health permits and inspects individual wells and can sample well water, consistent with the state's Water Well Standards Act framework. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo dedicated county ordinance on full utility disconnection was found; the standard building inspection sequence includes a 'Temporary to Permanent Power' inspection, suggesting grid connection is functionally expected, but this isn't explicitly mandatory for off-grid designs. Confirm directly with the Building Department. source
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 5.1 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 3.9 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,380 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 60 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 3,916 (moderate)
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Northeast Georgia Medical Center Habersham - 7.3 mi
- Fire station
Cornelia Fire Department North Station - 6.3 mi
- Hardware store
Lowe's - 6.4 mi
- Grocery
The Store - 6.1 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 30535).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in White County, GA?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.