Off-grid site report

Queen Anne's County, MD

38.9736, -76.2398 · 0 ft elevation
Read this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Queen Anne's County, MD, 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 rulesQueen Anne's County, MD

Zoning & raw-land occupancy
RestrictedQueen Anne's County has adopted its own comprehensive Zoning and Subdivision Regulations (Chapter 18:1), administered countywide by the Department of Planning and Zoning; there is no unzoned territory here. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
RestrictedThe county code restricts manufactured/mobile homes to replacement or temporary-shelter situations; tiny homes on wheels and long-term RV occupancy as a dwelling are not addressed in official sources, so treat that as unclear and confirm with Planning and Zoning. source
Building permits & codes
RestrictedA county building permit/zoning certificate is required for most new construction or alteration of residential structures, built on the state's Maryland Building Performance Standards (COMAR-adopted IBC/IRC) with county amendments; farm buildings get a narrow construction-code exemption but still need electrical/plumbing permits. source
Septic & composting toilets
RestrictedThe county Health Department's Environmental Health division, under state MDE delegation, requires a written permit before building a private wastewater system and mandates periodic pump-outs; composting toilets are not addressed by a county-specific rule and likely inherit the stricter state baseline. source
Greywater reuse
RestrictedNo county ordinance was found modifying the state greywater rule; the county appears to simply defer to Maryland's Environment Article framework, enforced locally by the Health Department. Not confirmed whether any extra local step applies.
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedNo county-specific rainwater harvesting ordinance was found; the county's stormwater program treats it favorably as a best-management practice but this is not an explicit county rule.
Private wells & water rights
RestrictedThe county Health Department's Water Program inspects and permits new and replacement wells under state delegation; when public water becomes available in an area, a similar mandatory-connection expectation may apply as it does for septic-to-sewer conversions. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo dedicated county ordinance addresses full grid/utility disconnection; it's governed indirectly since a building permit still requires Health Officer sign-off on water/septic and Building Code occupancy approval regardless of utility connection status.

Open the full county page with sources →

Sun30-year normals

Peak-sun hours, annual average
4.9 hrs/day
Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
3.5 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
1,405 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND

Weather1991-2020

Precipitation
47 in/yr
Snowfall
8 in/yr
Heating degree days
3,845 (moderate)
Frost-free season
Mar 30 to Nov 13

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital
Anne Arundel Medical Center
15.8 mi
Fire station
Kent Island Volunteer Fire Department
2.6 mi
Hardware store
Ace Hardware
3.9 mi
Grocery
Safeway
1.8 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 21619).

Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt

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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.