Off-grid site report
Fayette County, PA
39.8223, -79.9189 · 784 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Fayette County, PA, 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 rulesFayette County, PA
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Varies locallyThe Fayette County Planning, Zoning & Community Development office administers zoning for 31 of the 42 municipalities; the other 11 handle their own zoning under the state Municipalities Planning Code. Confirm which system covers your parcel. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyNo Fayette County or municipal source specifically addresses tiny homes, RV residency, or minimum dwelling size; this defaults to the state UCC baseline unless a township says otherwise. Ask the local municipality's zoning/UCC officer.
Building permits & codes
RestrictedPennsylvania mandated Fayette County adopt the Uniform Construction Code, but permit issuance is fragmented: some townships handle it locally, some use a private agency (e.g., K2 Engineering for Franklin Township), and others fall to PA Labor & Industry. source
Septic & composting toilets
RestrictedThere is no county health department running septic permitting; each municipality has its own appointed Sewage Enforcement Officer operating under the state's Act 537 sewage facilities framework and Title 25 Chapters 72-73. source
Greywater reuse
RestrictedNo Fayette-specific greywater rule was found; the state treats greywater as sewage requiring a permitted on-lot system, administered by PA DEP. source
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedNo Fayette County rule changes the state position that rainwater harvesting is fine for non-potable uses but can't serve as an approved potable supply for full-time occupancy.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedNo county well-permitting office or ordinance was found; wells are governed by state driller-licensing rules under Act 610, since Fayette has no environmental health office of its own.
Living disconnected from utilities
Varies locallyNo countywide ordinance requires grid, water, or sewer hookup for occupancy; any such rule would be set by the individual township or borough that handles building/occupancy permitting there.
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 4.4 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 2.5 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,201 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 40 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 5,709 (cold)
- Frost-free season
- Apr 30 to Oct 17
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Uniontown Hospital - 11.0 mi
- Fire station
Greensboro Mon Township Volunteer Fire Department - 2.0 mi
- Hardware store
True Value Hardware - 9.5 mi
- Grocery
Shopper's Value - 3.3 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 15460).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Fayette County, PA?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 21, 2026; agencies update their layers on their own schedules. Planning data, not a survey or legal advice.