Off-grid site report
Herkimer County, NY
42.9277, -75.0427 · 1,542 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Herkimer County, NY, 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 rulesHerkimer County, NY
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Varies locallyHerkimer County has no countywide zoning ordinance; each town (e.g., Litchfield) adopts its own local zoning law with its own lot-size and frontage rules, so status depends entirely on the town. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyNo countywide standard for manufactured homes, tiny houses, or RVs was found; these are addressed in town-level codes, and likely fall back to NYS's general treatment of RVs as non-permanent dwellings unless a town law says otherwise. source
Building permits & codes
RestrictedBuilding permits are administered by individual town code enforcement offices under the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code, coordinated in part with county 911 addressing. source
Septic & composting toilets
RestrictedNo county-specific septic ordinance was found; Herkimer County Public Health directs septic and water-quality matters to the New York State Department of Health's Environmental Unit, which sets the operative standards. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNo Herkimer County or town greywater ordinance was found; this likely inherits the New York State baseline, which addresses greywater but is restrictive in practice. Confirm with your town code office.
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedNo Herkimer County rule restricts rainwater harvesting; it appears to follow the New York State baseline, which generally permits it subject to state storage and setback guidance.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedWells are regulated under New York State DEC well-contractor registration requirements, with Herkimer County's Public Health Department serving as the local health department that can approve deviations from state standards. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Varies locallyThere is no countywide requirement to connect to grid electric, water, or sewer; this is determined by each town's own code, so you must check locally.
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 4.3 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 2.4 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,207 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 50 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 68 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 7,621 (severe)
- Frost-free season
- Apr 28 to Oct 19
- Design low
- -8 °F
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Little Falls Hospital - 12.7 mi
- Fire station
Mohawk Fire Dept - 5.9 mi
- Hardware store
Aubuchon - 7.0 mi
- Grocery
Price Chopper - 5.4 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 13361).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
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.