Off-grid site report

Pierce County, WA

47.1563, -121.9942 · 764 ft elevation

Read this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Pierce County, WA, 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 rulesPierce County, WA

Zoning & raw-land occupancy

Varies locallyPierce County has a countywide zoning code (Title 18A) and allowable uses, including raw-land occupancy, depend on the parcel's specific zone classification. Check via the county's About My Property tool through PALS. source

Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs

RestrictedTiny homes on permanent foundations are permitted under IRC and state energy code, but the county requires approved water supply and sewage disposal; RVs/park models are treated as recreational, not permanent dwellings. source

Building permits & codes

Generally allowedStandard building permits apply to tiny homes and new construction through the Building Official at the county's Development Center; small accessory structures under 200 sq ft may be exempt but must still meet setbacks. source

Septic & composting toilets

RestrictedTPCHD enforces the state on-site sewage code (WAC 246-272A) plus its own annual inspection requirement for pressure systems; composting toilets are not accepted as a substitute for approved sewage disposal on new permitted dwellings. source

Greywater reuse

Unclear - verifyNo Pierce-County-specific greywater ordinance was found; this likely inherits the state WAC 246-274 baseline through TPCHD, but confirm directly with them.

Rainwater harvesting

Largely prohibitedThe county's tiny-home guide explicitly disallows rainwater catchment for potable water in permitted dwellings; non-potable use isn't clearly addressed locally. source

Private wells & water rights

Generally allowedWells are allowed under state Ecology/Health standards (WAC 173-160, WAC 246-290), administered locally by TPCHD, which may require a hydrogeologic report in certain areas per PALS policy. source

Living disconnected from utilities

Unclear - verifyNo standalone ordinance bans off-grid living, but new permanent dwellings must meet approved water/sewage requirements that effectively restrict full off-grid new construction; treatment of existing off-grid properties wasn't confirmed. source

Open the full county page with sources →

Sun30-year normals

Peak-sun hours, annual average: 3.7 hrs/day
Worst month (sizes an off-grid array): 1.7 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels: 1,018 kWh

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Weather1991-2020

Precipitation: 48 in/yr
Snowfall: 6 in/yr
Heating degree days: 4,825 (moderate)
Frost-free season: Mar 28 to Nov 2

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital MultiCare Good Samaritan Hospital: 13.9 mi
Fire station Central Pierce Fire & Rescue 73: 14.4 mi
Hardware store Reynolds Trading: 2.8 mi
Grocery Buckley Foods: 2.0 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 98321).

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 21, 2026; agencies update their layers on their own schedules. Planning data, not a survey or legal advice.