Off-grid site report
Howard County, AR
33.9244, -93.8560 · 358 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Howard County, AR, 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 rulesHoward County, AR
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Unclear - verifyArkansas law lets county planning boards adopt zoning for unincorporated areas, but it's optional. A document presented as Howard County's ordinance references this state law, but I could not confirm it's the current adopted code. Call the County Judge's office to confirm. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyNo Howard County or Arkansas state page defines tiny-home or RV residency rules specifically for this county; not confirmed whether county or town handles this.
Building permits & codes
Unclear - verifyArkansas's statewide fire/building code baseline presumably applies, but no Howard County building permit office page was found to confirm local enforcement. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedThe Arkansas Department of Health's Onsite Wastewater program, implemented locally through the Howard County Health Unit's Environmental Health Specialist, permits septic systems statewide. A narrow exemption from needing a permit (not from construction standards) applies to a single residence on ten or more acres with the system 200+ feet from all property lines. source
Greywater reuse
RestrictedNo Howard County-specific rule was found; the Arkansas Department of Health's general requirement that greywater be handled in an approved manner is presumed to apply. source
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedNo county or state rule restricting rainwater collection was found; Arkansas's baseline is largely unregulated on this.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedThe Arkansas Department of Health sets statewide well construction standards, with local review through the county health department, but Howard County-specific well program details were not confirmed from an official source.
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo state statute or Howard County ordinance was found requiring connection to electric, gas, or municipal water/sewer; sewage still must meet ADH septic rules or the acreage exemption. source
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 5.1 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 3.8 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,373 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 54 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 2 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 2,800 (mild)
- Frost-free season
- Mar 25 to Nov 11
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Howard Memorial Hospital - 2.2 mi
- Fire station
Toland Heights Fire Station - 1.1 mi
- Hardware store
- none within range
- Grocery
Walmart Supercenter - 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 71852).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Howard County, AR?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.