Off-grid site report

Lane County, OR

44.0259, -123.0904 · 443 ft elevation

Read this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Lane County, OR, 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 rulesLane County, OR

Zoning & raw-land occupancy

RestrictedLane County has full countywide zoning authority; rural land is designated Rural Residential (RR1/2/5/10) or other zones like EFU/Forest under the Rural Comprehensive Plan and Lane Code 16. You need an approved zone and dwelling approval before occupying raw land. source

Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs

Varies locallyRental RVs on Rural Residential land are allowed under the state's SB 1013 program as adopted by Lane County, with floodplain and water-supply conditions; ADUs are allowed on Rural Residential parcels of at least two acres per county Ordinance 23-05 (SB 391). Tiny homes on wheels are treated like RVs, though not independently confirmed. source

Building permits & codes

RestrictedLane County's Building Program issues permits locally, requiring prior Planning and Sanitation approvals for most structures; permits are denied if water supply lacks state/county approval. Small nonhabitable structures under 200 sq ft are exempt from the building permit but not from zoning/sanitation approval. source

Septic & composting toilets

Generally allowedLane County's On-Site Wastewater program (DEQ-authorized) issues septic permits before construction, often alongside the building permit. Composting-toilet-only setups aren't clearly addressed, so confirm directly with Sanitation staff. source

Greywater reuse

Unclear - verifyNo Lane County-specific greywater page was found; it likely falls under Oregon DEQ's statewide tiered permit program by default. Confirm with LMD Sanitation whether the county administers any part of this directly.

Rainwater harvesting

Generally allowedOregon exempts rainwater collected from an impervious surface from water-rights permitting, and Lane County's building code exempts tanks under 5,000 gallons (with height-to-diameter limits) from a building permit. source

Private wells & water rights

Generally allowedWells and groundwater use are regulated by the state Oregon Water Resources Department, not a separate Lane County process; domestic use under 15,000 gallons/day is exempt from a water-rights permit. Lane County falls under OWRD's Water District 2. source

Living disconnected from utilities

Varies locallyLiving off the electrical grid isn't separately prohibited, but Lane County requires proof of an approved water supply and, where applicable, septic approval before issuing a building permit, so full self-sufficiency still requires clearing Planning, Sanitation, and Building review.

Open the full county page with sources →

Sun30-year normals

Peak-sun hours, annual average: 4.2 hrs/day
Worst month (sizes an off-grid array): 1.9 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels: 1,150 kWh

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Weather1991-2020

Precipitation: 46 in/yr
Snowfall: 5 in/yr
Heating degree days: 4,807 (moderate)
Frost-free season: Apr 18 to Oct 22

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center: 4.7 mi
Fire station Eugene Springfield Fire Station #15: 0.4 mi
Hardware store True Value: 0.1 mi
Grocery Sunrise Asian Market: 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 97405).

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.