Off-grid site report
Knox County, IN
38.6397, -87.5200Read this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Knox County, IN, 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 rulesKnox County, IN
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
RestrictedKnox County has an actual county-wide zoning ordinance, administered by the Area Plan Commission, adopted under Indiana's IC 36-7-4 600 Series. This applies to all of the county including incorporated towns, unlike counties with no zoning at all. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyNo Knox County-specific language on tiny homes or RVs as permanent dwellings was found. District rules (like minimum lot size) exist, so confirm with the Area Plan Commission before proceeding.
Building permits & codes
RestrictedBuilding permits are required and routed through the county/Area Plan Commission system, with Vincennes and Bicknell handled within the same ordinance framework; Indiana's statewide IRC-based code is the underlying standard. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedSeptic systems, including composting-toilet adjacent setups, follow the statewide 410 IAC 6-8.3 rule from the Indiana Department of Health, administered locally by the Knox County Health Department. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNo Knox County-specific greywater ordinance was found; it likely falls under the state's onsite sewage rule if not properly managed, but this is not confirmed for Knox County. Ask the Health Department directly.
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedNo Knox County ordinance restricts rainwater collection, so it appears to follow the state's generally permissive baseline; any indoor plumbing tie-in would fall under the state plumbing code.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedPrivate wells are permitted with a county well-construction permit through the Knox County Health Department, and drillers must be licensed by Indiana DNR under IC 25-39 and 312 IAC 13. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Generally allowedNo mandatory utility-hookup ordinance was found for Knox County, so living off the electric/water/sewer grid appears permitted, inheriting Indiana's generally hands-off state position.
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 4.8 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 2.8 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,389 kWh
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Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 46 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 8 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 5,024 (moderate)
- Frost-free season
- Apr 12 to Oct 21
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Lawrence County Memorial Hospital - 11.2 mi
- Fire station
Vincennes Township Fire Department Station 7 - 1.5 mi
- Hardware store
Lowe's - 3.8 mi
- Grocery
Save-A-Lot - 1.7 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 47591).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Knox County, IN?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.