Off-grid site report
Riverside County, CA
33.9040, -117.4596 · 761 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Riverside County, CA, 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 rulesRiverside County, CA
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Varies locallyRiverside County Ordinance No. 348, administered by the county Planning Department, sets zoning for unincorporated land zone by zone; incorporated cities like Riverside, Temecula, and Palm Springs have their own separate, sometimes stricter codes. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Varies locallyThe county Planning Department says there's no blanket zoning ban on parking a personal RV on your land, though CC&Rs may restrict it; second units require an acre or more, a qualifying zone, and compliance with Ordinance 348. Full-time RV living as a sole dwelling on vacant land isn't confirmed as permitted, and the City of Riverside's Movable ADU program requires full utility hookups so it isn't an off-grid path. source
Building permits & codes
RestrictedConstruction requires a permit under the county's Building Regulations (Title 15 of the County Code, incorporating adopted California Building and Fire codes); no off-grid-specific exemptions were confirmed. source
Septic & composting toilets
RestrictedAll septic (OWTS) work in unincorporated Riverside County requires a Construction Application and permit from the Department of Environmental Health under County Ordinance 650; discharging effluent onto bare ground is a cited, fineable violation. Composting toilet rules were not confirmed, so ask Environmental Health directly.
Greywater reuse
RestrictedCounty Ordinance 650, enforced by Environmental Health, makes it a violation to let greywater from sinks, showers, or laundry discharge onto the ground; it must go through an approved OWTS or permitted greywater system.
Rainwater harvesting
Unclear - verifyNo Riverside County ordinance on rainwater cistern permitting was found; this likely defaults to California's generally permissive state baseline, but that is not confirmed at the county level.
Private wells & water rights
RestrictedThe Riverside County Department of Environmental Health is the local enforcing agency for well permits under County Ordinance 640 and state DWR standards; agricultural wells need a separate Well Evaluation Application before being used for drinking water, and some local groundwater basins carry added state overdraft restrictions. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo standalone Riverside County ordinance was found that directly permits or bars living fully off the utility grid; septic, well, and building permit rules function as indirect requirements. Confirm directly with county Planning if this is central to your plan.
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 6.3 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 4.9 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,741 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 12 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 1,447 (mild)
- Frost-free season
- Jan 14 to Dec 28
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Riverside University Health System - Arlington Mental Health Facility - 1.0 mi
- Fire station
Riverside Fire Department Station #12 - 0.3 mi
- Hardware store
Ace Janitorial Supply - 0.4 mi
- Grocery
Stater Bros. - 0.9 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 92503).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Riverside County, CA?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.