Off-grid site report
Clearwater County, ID
46.4799, -116.2551 · 1,053 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Clearwater County, ID, 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 rulesClearwater County, ID
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
RestrictedClearwater County has adopted its own countywide zoning ordinance under Idaho's Local Land Use Planning Act, dividing land into districts and requiring Planning & Zoning review for subdivisions and certain uses. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyManufactured/mobile home placement requires a county permit, but no official Clearwater County source confirms rules for tiny homes or RVs as permanent dwellings; ask the Building & Planning Department.
Building permits & codes
Varies locallyThe county repealed mandatory building code enforcement in Ordinance No. 50, meaning Idaho's Division of Building Safety (DOPL) likely serves as default authority; confirm current status with the county directly. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedSeptic permits are issued by Public Health, Idaho North Central District, which enforces state DEQ rules for subsurface sewage disposal, not the county building department. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNo Clearwater County-specific greywater ordinance was found; it likely falls under the same DEQ onsite wastewater rules administered by the health district.
Rainwater harvesting
Unclear - verifyNo official Clearwater County or health district page addresses residential rainwater collection; this is not confirmed at any level found.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedWell drilling is permitted through the Idaho Department of Water Resources and licensed well drillers statewide; no distinct Clearwater County process was found. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo county ordinance explicitly bans or permits full utility disconnection, though zoning applications require disclosure of water and sewage systems used on the property.
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 4.4 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 1.8 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,232 kWh
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Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 34 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 52 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 6,729 (cold)
- Frost-free season
- May 2 to Oct 22
- Design low
- 4 °F
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Clearwater Valley Hospital - 0.5 mi
- Fire station
Orofino Fire Station #1 - 0.2 mi
- Hardware store
Jacobs Lumber Company - 20.5 mi
- Grocery
Glenwood IGA Foodliner - 0.7 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 83544).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Clearwater County, ID?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.
New here, or not sure where this fits? Start here walks through the whole thing in order.