Off-grid site report
Lemhi County, ID
44.8516, -113.6198 · 5,194 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Lemhi 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 rulesLemhi County, ID
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
RestrictedLemhi County has adopted its own countywide Development Code, administered by the Planning & Zoning Commission and Board of County Commissioners; incorporated towns like Salmon add their own layer of rules. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Varies locallyThe county Building Department distinguishes tiny houses, manufactured/mobile homes, and RVs and issues separate permit packets for each; whether an RV alone can be a permanent residence under the Development Code is not confirmed, so ask the Building Department. source
Building permits & codes
RestrictedLemhi County runs its own Building Department (jointly with the City of Salmon) that issues permits and reviews site plans for setbacks; plumbing, electrical, and HVAC permits are handled separately by Idaho's state Division of Building Safety (DOPL). source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedSeptic permitting is delegated to Eastern Idaho Public Health under a memorandum of understanding with the state DEQ, and a valid installation permit is required under statewide IDAPA rules before building, modifying, or repairing a system, with narrow exceptions. source
Greywater reuse
RestrictedNo Lemhi-specific greywater ordinance was found; greywater disposal is regulated as part of the same statewide subsurface sewage rules that Eastern Idaho Public Health and DEQ administer for septic systems. source
Rainwater harvesting
Unclear - verifyNo official Lemhi County, EIPH, or DEQ page specifically addresses residential rainwater harvesting; it isn't confirmed whether any county-level rule applies beyond Idaho's general prior-appropriation water law.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedWell drilling and water rights are handled at the state level by the Idaho Department of Water Resources, and Lemhi County's own FAQ directs residents to IDWR for well requirements; the Lemhi River Basin also has an active water-rights adjudication/settlement context worth asking IDWR about. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo Lemhi County ordinance was found that directly addresses full utility disconnection; it's touched only indirectly through building permit site-plan and wastewater requirements, so confirm with the county Building Department. source
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 5.1 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 2.5 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,458 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 9 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 9,558 (severe)
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Steele Memorial Medical Center - 25.9 mi
- Fire station
Leadore Fire Department Station #1 - 17.5 mi
- Hardware store
- none within range
- Grocery
- none within range
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 83465).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Lemhi 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.