Off-grid site report

Kitsap County, WA

47.5539, -122.8222 · 856 ft elevation

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

Zoning & raw-land occupancy

Varies locallyKitsap County DCD administers countywide zoning (Title 17) with allowed uses set by zone; rural zones like RR and RW allow more but manufactured/RV/tiny-home parks need a Conditional Use Permit and acreage minimums. Applies only in unincorporated county; the four cities have their own codes. source

Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs

RestrictedDCD allows permanently foundationed tiny homes if they meet habitable-room standards, but county enforcement says tiny homes on wheels and RVs cannot be permanent dwellings; temporary RV occupancy (owner/family, up to three months) requires full utility hookups. source

Building permits & codes

Generally allowedDCD administers the Washington State Building Code locally with amendments; notably, EV charging infrastructure isn't required where there's no public or commercial power supply, suggesting the code anticipates off-grid power setups. source

Septic & composting toilets

Generally allowedThe Kitsap Public Health District, not the county government, regulates septic under a local ordinance implementing state WAC 246-272A rules; composting toilets with approved greywater handling are recognized as an alternative in some cases. source

Greywater reuse

Generally allowedGreywater reuse is reviewed by the Kitsap Public Health District as part of onsite sewage approval, implementing the statewide WAC 246-274 rule; no standalone county greywater ordinance was confirmed. source

Rainwater harvesting

Unclear - verifyNo Kitsap County or Health District page specifically addresses rainwater harvesting permitting; defer to Washington Department of Ecology's statewide policy and confirm with the Health District that no local rule applies.

Private wells & water rights

Generally allowedThe Kitsap Public Health District permits private wells (up to two connections, with a local exemption for certain two-party systems); new wells need a site inspection, formal approval, and a pump test showing adequate yield. Regional groundwater limits under state WRIA rules may also apply. source

Living disconnected from utilities

Unclear - verifyNo Kitsap ordinance explicitly bans off-grid living, but building permits, RV occupancy, and septic approval all generally assume connection to approved water and waste systems, so full disconnection isn't clearly sanctioned or prohibited. source

Open the full county page with sources →

Sun30-year normals

Peak-sun hours, annual average: 4.0 hrs/day
Worst month (sizes an off-grid array): 2.1 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels: 1,111 kWh

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Weather1991-2020

Precipitation: 56 in/yr
Snowfall: 4 in/yr
Heating degree days: 4,919 (moderate)
Frost-free season: Mar 31 to Nov 15

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital Navos West Seattle Campus: 21.3 mi
Fire station Max Meigs Fire Station #2: 6.6 mi
Hardware store Nibergall Marble Services: 6.3 mi
Grocery Grocery Outlet: 7.0 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 98380).

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.