Off-grid site report
Oswego County, NY
43.4548, -76.5094 · 276 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Oswego 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 rulesOswego County, NY
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Varies locallyOswego County has no countywide zoning ordinance; zoning is adopted individually by each town and the two cities. Confirm rules with your specific town or city zoning office. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
RestrictedIn the City of Oswego, trailers cannot be occupied as dwellings outside an approved trailer park; other towns' rules on RVs and tiny homes were not confirmed and vary by municipality. source
Building permits & codes
RestrictedEach town or city issues its own building permits under the NYS Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code; exemption thresholds are set locally, not by the county. source
Septic & composting toilets
RestrictedThe Oswego County Health Department requires licensed-engineer-designed septic (OWTS) plans and its own approval, plus a local building permit, per NYSDOH standards. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNo Oswego County or town page on greywater reuse was found; this is not confirmed locally, so ask the county Health Department directly.
Rainwater harvesting
Unclear - verifyNo county-specific rainwater harvesting rule was found; this falls back to the general New York State baseline, not confirmed locally.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedThe Oswego County Health Department oversees well water testing and offers a residential well assistance program, with a private well water application/notice form available; drilling itself follows NYSDOH/DEC standards.
Living disconnected from utilities
Varies locallyNo county law mandates grid connection, but county septic approval and local building permits are still required for habitable structures, which limits fully unpermitted off-grid living; town rules were not individually confirmed.
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 4.2 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 1.5 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,205 kWh
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Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 47 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 58 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 6,599 (cold)
- Frost-free season
- Apr 14 to Nov 17
- Design low
- 2 °F
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Oswego Health - 0.3 mi
- Fire station
Oswego Fire Station West - 0.4 mi
- Hardware store
Harbor Freight Tools - 1.5 mi
- Grocery
Paul's Big M - 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 13126).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Oswego 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.