Off-grid site report
Accomack County, VA
38.0079, -75.3835 · 3 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Accomack County, VA, 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 rulesAccomack County, VA
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Varies locallyAccomack County's Building, Planning & Economic Development department enforces countywide zoning with rules that vary by district, but this zoning does not apply inside incorporated towns like Chincoteague, which has its own office. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
RestrictedFoundation-built and modular homes are reviewed as standard dwellings under the state building code; RVs and wheeled tiny homes follow state RV rules and full-time occupancy depends on zoning and utility approval. No county-specific tiny-home minimum size was confirmed. source
Building permits & codes
Generally allowedThe county Building and Zoning Office enforces the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code, including the 2021 fire prevention code, throughout the county and most towns except Chincoteague. source
Septic & composting toilets
RestrictedState VDH permitting applies to all onsite systems, but Accomack County adds its own mandatory periodic pump-out (or equivalent certification/filter) requirement as a Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act locality. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNo county-specific greywater ordinance was found; this appears to fall under Virginia Department of Health sewage regulations administered locally, but the specifics are not confirmed. Ask VDH Eastern Shore Health District. source
Rainwater harvesting
Unclear - verifyNo Accomack-specific rainwater harvesting ordinance was found; this likely defaults to state VDH rules, but that is not confirmed. Confirm directly with VDH.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedPrivate wells are permitted through VDH's Eastern Shore Health District under standard state rules; the county's coastal geology may raise practical concerns about saltwater intrusion, but no separate county ordinance was found. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo county ordinance was found requiring grid-electric connection, but a Certificate of Occupancy from the county Building and Zoning Office still requires USBC compliance and approved water/septic systems, which indirectly limits fully disconnected living. source
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 5.0 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 3.6 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,452 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 41 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 8 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 4,189 (moderate)
- Frost-free season
- Apr 2 to Nov 11
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
TidalHealth Atlantic - 24.7 mi
- Fire station
Greenbackville Volunteer Fire Department - 0.5 mi
- Hardware store
Rommel's Ace Hardware - 5.8 mi
- Grocery
Island Foods Great Valu - 5.2 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 23356).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Accomack County, VA?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.