Off-grid site report
Power County, ID
42.7828, -112.8496 · 4,436 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Power County, ID, 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 rulesPower County, ID
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
RestrictedPower County has adopted a full Development Code with zoning districts and an official zoning map, under authority of the state's Local Land Use Planning Act. Raw-land occupancy without a permitted dwelling isn't addressed in available sources, so confirm with the county. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
RestrictedThe county requires permits for nearly all construction, including manufactured home placement, which also needs a HUD label and installation permit under state law. RV/tiny-home legal-dwelling status is not confirmed by any official source. source
Building permits & codes
RestrictedPower County has adopted and locally amended the International Building Code, including a higher minimum ground snow load; plumbing, electrical, and HVAC permits are issued separately by the state's Division of Building Safety. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedSeptic permitting runs through Southeastern Idaho Public Health under statewide IDAPA rules; a permit is required before installing or modifying a system, and temporary portable non-discharging toilets are allowed. source
Greywater reuse
RestrictedNo county-specific greywater ordinance was found; greywater appears to fall under the same state subsurface sewage disposal permitting framework as septic systems. Confirm specifics with Southeastern Idaho Public Health.
Rainwater harvesting
Unclear - verifyNo Power County or Southeastern Idaho Public Health source addressing rooftop rainwater collection was found. Not confirmed at the county level.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedNo county-specific well ordinance was found; wells fall under the state's Idaho Department of Water Resources permitting and water rights system. Local setback rules tied to septic siting may also apply, but this isn't confirmed. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo standalone ordinance addresses off-grid living directly, but the county's building permit requirements and the health district's septic permit requirement mean a habitable structure still has to meet code even without utility hookups. source
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 5.3 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 2.8 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,506 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 12 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 6,997 (cold)
- Frost-free season
- May 19 to Sep 25
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Power County Hospital District - 0.1 mi
- Fire station
American Falls Fire Department - 0.4 mi
- Hardware store
The Home Depot - 21.0 mi
- Grocery
Ken's Food Market - 0.2 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 83211).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Power County, ID?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.
New here, or not sure where this fits? Start here walks through the whole thing in order.