Off-grid site report
Franklin County, KS
38.5158, -95.0757 · 978 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Franklin County, KS, 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 rulesFranklin County, KS
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
RestrictedFranklin County has adopted countywide zoning regulations administered by the Planning & Building Department; rezoning, special use permits, and variances go through the Planning Commission/Board of Zoning Appeals.
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Varies locallyThe county has separate permit paths for residences, modular homes, mobile homes, and ADUs, but no official tiny-home standard or RV long-term occupancy rule was found; confirm directly with Building Department. source
Building permits & codes
RestrictedCountywide building permits and inspections are required, with exemptions for small non-habitable structures and ag buildings (setbacks still apply); non-conventional construction like shipping containers is allowed with an engineer's stamp. source
Septic & composting toilets
RestrictedFranklin County's own Environmental Sanitation Code (2017), built on KDHE's Bulletin 4-2, requires a permit, soil evaluation, and a county-licensed installer for onsite wastewater systems. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNo separate county greywater ordinance was found; it likely falls under the general wastewater permitting rules, but this is not confirmed, so ask Environmental Health directly.
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedNo county restriction was found, and household rainwater collection is covered by the state's domestic-use exemption under the Kansas Water Appropriation Act.
Private wells & water rights
RestrictedFranklin County requires its own Water Well Construction Permit from Environmental Health, in addition to state well-construction standards, and offers free well-water testing.
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo explicit Franklin County ordinance requiring or prohibiting off-grid utility disconnection was found in official materials; confirm directly with Planning & Building.
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 5.0 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 3.6 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,436 kWh
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Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 40 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 12 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 5,068 (moderate)
- Frost-free season
- Apr 18 to Oct 18
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
AdventHealth Ottawa - 11.8 mi
- Fire station
Cutler Township Fire Department - 2.8 mi
- Hardware store
Do it Best - 11.3 mi
- Grocery
Walmart Supercenter - 11.2 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 66079).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Franklin County, KS?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.