Off-grid site report

Sherman County, OR

45.5917, -120.6982 · 1,273 ft elevation

Read this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Sherman County, OR, 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 rulesSherman County, OR

Zoning & raw-land occupancy

RestrictedSherman County Planning Department administers countywide zoning and requires land-use approval before any building permit application can proceed. Non-farm dwellings require prior consultation with the county planner.

Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs

Unclear - verifyNo Sherman County page spells out specific tiny-home or RV-as-dwelling standards; not confirmed whether the county has opted into any state small-dwelling provisions. Confirm directly with the county planner. source

Building permits & codes

Generally allowedSherman County has no in-house building department; after county planning sign-off on land use, the State of Oregon Building Codes Division's Pendleton Field Office issues the actual building permit. source

Septic & composting toilets

Generally allowedSeptic systems are permitted but administered by the North Central Public Health District (covering Sherman and Wasco Counties) under Oregon DEQ rules; a site evaluation and a separate construction-installation permit are both required. Composting toilets are not specifically addressed locally. source

Greywater reuse

Unclear - verifyNo Sherman County ordinance or health district page specifically addresses greywater reuse; this appears to default to Oregon DEQ's statewide tiered permit program, but confirm with North Central Public Health District.

Rainwater harvesting

Unclear - verifyNo official Sherman County page addresses rooftop rainwater harvesting; this appears to default to the state's general exemption, but it is not locally confirmed.

Private wells & water rights

Unclear - verifyThere is no Sherman County water authority; wells fall entirely under Oregon Water Resources Department's statewide construction standards with no confirmed local supplement.

Living disconnected from utilities

RestrictedNo explicit county ban on living off-grid was found, but the required chain of county land-use approval plus a state building permit (which typically requires an approved sewage system) makes fully disconnected, unpermitted living impractical here.

Open the full county page with sources →

Sun30-year normals

Peak-sun hours, annual average: 5.1 hrs/day
Worst month (sizes an off-grid array): 1.8 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels: 1,454 kWh

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Weather1991-2020

Precipitation: 11 in/yr
Snowfall: 17 in/yr
Heating degree days: 6,168 (cold)
Frost-free season: May 9 to Oct 5

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital Klickitat Valley Hospital: 16.7 mi
Fire station Wishram Fire Department Station #11: 13.8 mi
Hardware store Sawyer's Ace Hardware: 23.3 mi
Grocery Huskey's 97 Market: 7.6 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 97065).

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.