Off-grid site report
Monroe County, NY
43.0870, -77.6360 · 525 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Monroe County, NY, 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 rulesMonroe County, NY
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Varies locallyMonroe County has no countywide zoning ordinance; each town or city (Penfield, Webster, Wheatland, City of Rochester, etc.) sets its own zoning rules for raw-land occupancy. The county's role is limited to referral review of local planning actions under NYS General Municipal Law 239-m/n. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
RestrictedWhether tiny homes, RVs, or trailers can be used as dwellings is decided by each town's zoning code, not by Monroe County. Check your specific town's eCode360 zoning chapter.
Building permits & codes
RestrictedBuilding permits and inspections are handled by each town or city's Code Enforcement/Building Department applying the NYS Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code; there is no single Monroe County building department. source
Septic & composting toilets
RestrictedSeptic (OWTS) systems are permitted and inspected countywide by the Monroe County Department of Public Health under the county's Sanitary Code (Article IIA), which also references NYS Part 75 construction standards. Composting toilets are not separately addressed and should be confirmed directly with the county. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNo Monroe County-specific greywater ordinance or guidance was found; this appears to default to the state baseline. Confirm with the Monroe County Department of Public Health before building a greywater system.
Rainwater harvesting
Unclear - verifyNo Monroe County ordinance or health department guidance specifically on rainwater harvesting was found; this likely defers to the New York State baseline, but it's not confirmed at the county level.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedMonroe County doesn't issue well-drilling permits but its Department of Public Health oversees water quality testing for the roughly 4,500 private wells in the county; well construction must meet NYS DOH Appendix 5-B standards, checked by your town's Code Enforcement Officer, and wells must be installed by a NYS DEC-registered contractor. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Varies locallyNo countywide rule requires grid connection; whether a permanent off-grid home can skip electric, water, or sewer hookups depends on your town's zoning and building code, combined with having an approved county-permitted well and septic system.
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 4.2 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 2.0 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,180 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 38 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 48 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 6,496 (cold)
- Frost-free season
- Apr 22 to Nov 8
- Design low
- 0 °F
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Highland Hospital - 3.7 mi
- Fire station
Airport Fire Dept - 2.8 mi
- Hardware store
Harbor Freight Tools - 0.5 mi
- Grocery
Price Rite - 0.4 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 14623).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Monroe County, NY?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 21, 2026; agencies update their layers on their own schedules. Planning data, not a survey or legal advice.