Off-grid site report
Buckingham County, VA
37.5501, -78.5556 · 463 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Buckingham County, VA, 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 rulesBuckingham County, VA
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Varies locallyBuckingham County has a countywide zoning ordinance administered by the Board of Supervisors and the Zoning and Planning Administrator, dividing land into residential, agricultural, commercial, and industrial districts with district-specific setbacks and lot requirements. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyConventional dwellings on recorded parcels are addressed in the zoning ordinance, but claims that Buckingham specifically permits tiny houses on wheels come only from non-official sources and could not be confirmed in the ordinance text; confirm directly with the Zoning and Planning Administrator. source
Building permits & codes
Generally allowedThe county's Building Inspections office administers the Virginia USBC, and a VDH completion statement for septic/well is required before final inspection and occupancy. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedSeptic systems, including composting/alternative options, are permitted under Virginia Department of Health regulation; no Buckingham-specific loosening of the state rule was found, and a licensed consultant's work is generally required on applications. source
Greywater reuse
Generally allowedGreywater reuse falls under VDH's statewide sewage handling regulations; no Buckingham-specific ordinance was found, so the state baseline applies. source
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedRainwater harvesting is governed by VDH's statewide tiered permitting and registration program; no county-specific rule was found in Buckingham. source
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedPrivate wells require a VDH construction permit through the local health department, and well approval is tied into the county's building permit occupancy process. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo Buckingham ordinance was found requiring a grid electric connection for occupancy; the building permit conditions focus on septic/well approval and standard inspections, but this is not explicitly confirmed either way.
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 5.0 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 3.7 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,358 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 44 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 4,284 (moderate)
- Frost-free season
- Apr 17 to Oct 23
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Centra Southside Community Hospital - 19.0 mi
- Fire station
Dillwyn Volunteer Fire Depart,ent - 4.4 mi
- Hardware store
Cumberland True Value - 17.5 mi
- Grocery
Food Lion - 4.4 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 23921).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Buckingham County, VA?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.