Off-grid site report

Franklin County, KS

38.6154, -95.2678 · 909 ft elevation

Read this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Franklin County, KS, 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 rulesFranklin County, KS

Zoning & raw-land occupancy

RestrictedFranklin County has adopted countywide zoning regulations administered by the Planning & Building Department; rezoning, special use permits, and variances go through the Planning Commission/Board of Zoning Appeals.

Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs

Varies locallyThe county has separate permit paths for residences, modular homes, mobile homes, and ADUs, but no official tiny-home standard or RV long-term occupancy rule was found; confirm directly with Building Department. source

Building permits & codes

RestrictedCountywide building permits and inspections are required, with exemptions for small non-habitable structures and ag buildings (setbacks still apply); non-conventional construction like shipping containers is allowed with an engineer's stamp. source

Septic & composting toilets

RestrictedFranklin County's own Environmental Sanitation Code (2017), built on KDHE's Bulletin 4-2, requires a permit, soil evaluation, and a county-licensed installer for onsite wastewater systems. source

Greywater reuse

Unclear - verifyNo separate county greywater ordinance was found; it likely falls under the general wastewater permitting rules, but this is not confirmed, so ask Environmental Health directly.

Rainwater harvesting

Generally allowedNo county restriction was found, and household rainwater collection is covered by the state's domestic-use exemption under the Kansas Water Appropriation Act.

Private wells & water rights

RestrictedFranklin County requires its own Water Well Construction Permit from Environmental Health, in addition to state well-construction standards, and offers free well-water testing.

Living disconnected from utilities

Unclear - verifyNo explicit Franklin County ordinance requiring or prohibiting off-grid utility disconnection was found in official materials; confirm directly with Planning & Building.

Open the full county page with sources →

Sun30-year normals

Peak-sun hours, annual average: 5.2 hrs/day
Worst month (sizes an off-grid array): 3.9 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels: 1,482 kWh

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Weather1991-2020

Precipitation: 40 in/yr
Snowfall: 12 in/yr
Heating degree days: 5,068 (moderate)
Frost-free season: Apr 18 to Oct 18

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital AdventHealth Ottawa: 1.3 mi
Fire station Ottawa Fire Department Station 1: 0.6 mi
Hardware store Do it Best: 21.2 mi
Grocery Wray's Bulk Foods: 0.0 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 66067).

Size a solar system Heat loss & insulation Firewood per winter Rainwater harvest Garden size Panel tilt

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.