Off-grid site report
Craighead County, AR
35.8158, -90.7321 · 348 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Craighead 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 rulesCraighead County, AR
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Unclear - verifyArkansas state law allows counties to adopt zoning for unincorporated land, but it's optional. I could not confirm from Craighead County's own site whether the quorum court has adopted such an ordinance for unincorporated areas; incorporated cities like Jonesboro have separate zoning. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyNo Craighead County-specific rule on tiny homes or RV residency was found; any dwelling would go through the general county Development Permit process. source
Building permits & codes
Varies locallyThe county requires a Development Permit that includes a Health Department perc test and a power-provider utility letter, but I could not confirm which building code edition Craighead County has adopted for unincorporated areas. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedSeptic systems are permitted and regulated statewide by the Arkansas Department of Health, with the Craighead County Health Department handling local perc tests and applications. source
Greywater reuse
RestrictedNo county-specific greywater ordinance was found; the Arkansas Department of Health's statewide onsite wastewater rules govern, meaning greywater generally must go through an approved system. source
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedNo Craighead County ordinance addressing rainwater collection was found; basic collection appears to follow the state's generally unregulated default, though this is not confirmed at the county level.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedNo county-specific well ordinance was found; state well-construction standards from the Arkansas Department of Health and oversight by the state Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Division apply as the baseline. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyThe county's permit process references a letter from the local power provider stating utilities 'may' be extended to the property, but I could not confirm this amounts to a prohibition on off-grid, unconnected living. Confirm directly with the County Judge's Permits office. source
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 5.1 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 3.6 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,437 kWh
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Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 48 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 5 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 3,846 (moderate)
- Frost-free season
- Apr 2 to Oct 31
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Saint Bernards Medical Center - 2.2 mi
- Fire station
Jonesboro Fire Department Station 5 - 0.9 mi
- Hardware store
The Home Depot - 1.7 mi
- 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 72403).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Craighead 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.