Off-grid site report

Clinton County, OH

39.4523, -83.7817 · 1,060 ft elevation

Read this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Clinton County, OH, 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 rulesClinton County, OH

Zoning & raw-land occupancy

Varies locallyMost Clinton County townships are zoned and require a zoning permit under the county's Zoning Resolution, but Clark and Washington townships are unzoned with no local zoning rules, and the City of Wilmington and Village of Blanchester run their own separate zoning departments. source

Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs

Unclear - verifyNo county page specifically addresses tiny homes or RVs as permanent dwellings; shipping containers are not treated as a permitted accessory structure, suggesting the county is restrictive toward non-standard structures. Confirm with Clinton County Building & Zoning for your township. source

Building permits & codes

RestrictedA zoning permit is required before a building permit in zoned townships, and the county enforces the state's Residential Code of Ohio through its Building & Zoning Department; municipalities like Wilmington have their own separate building departments. source

Septic & composting toilets

Generally allowedThe Clinton County Health District permits and inspects septic (sewage treatment) systems countywide under state Ohio Revised Code and Administrative Code authority, and only registered installers can pull the permit. source

Greywater reuse

Generally allowedNo Clinton County-specific greywater ordinance was found; greywater reuse falls under the same state Ohio Administrative Code chapter that governs sewage systems, administered locally by the Health District. source

Rainwater harvesting

Generally allowedCisterns that collect rainwater from the house they serve are explicitly allowed and treated as a private water system component by the county. source

Private wells & water rights

Generally allowedPrivate wells are permitted through the Clinton County Health District under state administrative code, though a permit is not required for certain non-potable wells, ponds, springs, or cisterns not built as a formal private water system. source

Living disconnected from utilities

Unclear - verifyNo Clinton County ordinance was found explicitly requiring or prohibiting connection to electric, water, or sewer utilities for a dwelling; this is not confirmed and worth asking Building & Zoning directly.

Open the full county page with sources →

Sun30-year normals

Peak-sun hours, annual average: 4.6 hrs/day
Worst month (sizes an off-grid array): 3.0 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels: 1,338 kWh

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Weather1991-2020

Precipitation: 41 in/yr
Heating degree days: 5,473 (moderate)
Frost-free season: Apr 19 to Oct 20

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital Clinton Memorial Hospital: 3.1 mi
Fire station Wilmington Fire Department Station 2: 0.4 mi
Hardware store Lowe's: 1.5 mi
Grocery Walmart Supercenter: 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 45177).

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 22, 2026; agencies update their layers on their own schedules. Planning data, not a survey or legal advice.