Off-grid site report

Broome County, NY

42.1976, -75.8979 · 1,050 ft elevation

Read this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Broome 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 rulesBroome County, NY

Zoning & raw-land occupancy

Varies locallyBroome County has no countywide zoning code; each town, village, and the City of Binghamton sets its own zoning and permitted-use rules. The county Planning Department only conducts advisory reviews under state law. source

Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs

Unclear - verifyNo county ordinance addresses tiny homes or RVs as dwellings; this is set by each town's zoning/building code, so it's not confirmed at the county level. Ask your specific town's code enforcement office.

Building permits & codes

RestrictedBuilding permits and code enforcement are handled by individual town, village, and city offices, not the county, operating under the statewide Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code. source

Septic & composting toilets

RestrictedThe Broome County Health Department's Division of Environmental Health enforces state septic standards (10 NYCRR Appendix 75-A) and requires a sewage permit application for new installations; composting toilets aren't separately addressed and likely inherit the state DOH baseline. source

Greywater reuse

Unclear - verifyNo Broome County-specific greywater ordinance was found; this inherits the general New York state baseline. Confirm with the county Health Department if planning a system.

Rainwater harvesting

Unclear - verifyNo county-specific rainwater harvesting rule was found; this appears to inherit the state baseline, which generally permits it for non-potable use.

Private wells & water rights

Generally allowedPrivate wells serving single residences and farms are not regulated by the Broome County Health Department, though the county offers advisory guidance and recommends annual water testing. Public water supplies do require county plan review. source

Living disconnected from utilities

Varies locallyNo countywide mandate requiring grid utility connection was found; since there's no county zoning or building code, this is determined by each town's building and zoning office.

Open the full county page with sources →

Sun30-year normals

Peak-sun hours, annual average: 4.3 hrs/day
Worst month (sizes an off-grid array): 2.7 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels: 1,184 kWh

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Weather1991-2020

Precipitation: 43 in/yr
Snowfall: 51 in/yr
Heating degree days: 6,661 (cold)
Frost-free season: Apr 25 to Oct 28
Design low: -3 °F

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital UHS Wilson Medical Center: 6.5 mi
Fire station Hillcrest Fire Department: 3.4 mi
Hardware store Lowe's: 2.6 mi
Grocery Price Chopper: 2.1 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 13745).

Size a solar system Heat loss & insulation Firewood per winter Rainwater harvest Garden size Panel tilt

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.