Off-grid site report
Clarke County, AL
31.5576, -87.8752 · 417 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Clarke County, AL, 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 rulesClarke County, AL
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Unclear - verifyClarke County has no countywide zoning ordinance for unincorporated land, so state baseline applies there; towns like Grove Hill and Jackson have their own separate zoning authority that does not extend to unincorporated areas.
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyNo county-level ordinance on tiny homes or RVs was found; this is not confirmed for any specific town and would need to be checked with the relevant town hall or the County Commission.
Building permits & codes
Unclear - verifyNo Clarke County building permit department was identified; Alabama's State Building Code applies only where a local jurisdiction adopts it, and towns appear to handle their own permits.
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedAlabama state law requires a permit from the local health department before installing or repairing a septic system, and the Clarke County Health Department Environmental Office administers this locally. source
Greywater reuse
RestrictedNo Clarke County-specific greywater ordinance was found; it is regulated through the same state onsite sewage framework administered by the Clarke County Health Department Environmental Office. source
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedNo Clarke County ordinance restricting rainwater harvesting was found, so it is treated as permitted under general state guidance from the Alabama Cooperative Extension System.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedADEM does not regulate or permit individual private wells; well water bacteria testing is arranged through the county health department, and well construction records are tracked by the Geological Survey of Alabama. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Generally allowedNo Clarke County ordinance requiring hookup to public water, sewer, or electric was found; any such requirement would come from an individual town and is not confirmed for Grove Hill, Jackson, or Thomasville.
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 5.2 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 4.0 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,387 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 60 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 2,224 (mild)
- Frost-free season
- Mar 21 to Nov 11
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Jackson Medical Center - 2.2 mi
- Fire station
Leroy Volunteer Fire Dept. - 6.8 mi
- Hardware store
- none within range
- Grocery
Walmart Supercenter - 0.1 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 36545).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
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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 22, 2026; agencies update their layers on their own schedules. Planning data, not a survey or legal advice.