Off-grid site report
New Hanover County, NC
34.2442, -77.8759 · 36 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for New Hanover County, NC, 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 rulesNew Hanover County, NC
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
RestrictedNew Hanover County enforces its own Unified Development Ordinance covering zoning, subdivision, stormwater, and flood/erosion control in unincorporated areas; raw-land occupancy without a permitted structure isn't specifically addressed and should be confirmed with Planning.
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Varies locallyFoundation-built tiny homes are permitted under the state's Appendix Q code; RVs and mobile homes are explicitly disallowed as accessory dwelling units, and their status as full-time primary residences outside campgrounds isn't confirmed on an official county page.
Building permits & codes
Generally allowedThe county's Building Safety division administers the state residential/building code, requiring permits for new construction and change-of-use/occupancy certifications, with applications through the county's COAST portal. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedCounty Environmental Health, through its On-Site Water Protection program, permits septic systems under statewide sewage laws; composting toilets aren't addressed separately and fall under the state baseline.
Greywater reuse
RestrictedNo county-specific greywater ordinance was found; greywater reuse follows the state DEQ/DHHS framework by default.
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedNo county ordinance restricts rainwater harvesting; it appears to follow the state's Appendix C-1/G.S. 143-138 framework without added local rules.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedCounty Environmental Health permits private wells under state DEQ construction standards, and CFPUA may need to sign off on wells for new construction; note an active PFAS contamination issue tied to Chemours in the area.
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo explicit county ban on utility-free living was found, but occupancy approval in practice requires an approved sewage method through Building Safety and Environmental Health. source
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 5.2 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 4.1 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,463 kWh
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Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 58 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 2 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 2,412 (mild)
- Frost-free season
- Mar 18 to Nov 20
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
New Hanover Regional Medical Center Orthopedic Hospital - 2.3 mi
- Fire station
City of Wilmington Fire Station 3 - 1.1 mi
- Hardware store
The Home Depot - 0.6 mi
- Grocery
Walmart Supercenter - 0.2 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 28403).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in New Hanover County, NC?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.