Off-grid site report

Tioga County, PA

41.7839, -76.9593 · 1,736 ft elevation

Read this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Tioga 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 rulesTioga County, PA

Zoning & raw-land occupancy

Varies locallyTioga County has no countywide zoning ordinance; the County Planning Commission explored adopting one but it lacked public support. Zoning exists only where individual townships/boroughs have adopted it themselves. source

Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs

Varies locallyNo county rule on tiny homes or RVs as permanent dwellings was found; this is set by each township's own land-use or setback rules, as seen in Farmington Township's ordinance covering houses, camps, and trailers.

Building permits & codes

RestrictedPennsylvania's Uniform Construction Code applies statewide, but Tioga County has no countywide building permit office; enforcement is handled by each borough or township, sometimes via contracted code agencies. source

Septic & composting toilets

RestrictedSeptic systems are regulated under Pennsylvania's Act 537 Sewage Facilities Act, administered locally by each township or borough's certified Sewage Enforcement Officer rather than a county health department. source

Greywater reuse

RestrictedNo Tioga County-specific greywater rule was found; greywater is treated as sewage under the state Act 537 framework, so the local Sewage Enforcement Officer is the contact. source

Rainwater harvesting

Generally allowedNo Tioga County ordinance restricting rainwater harvesting for non-potable use was found; this follows the general absence of state restriction.

Private wells & water rights

Generally allowedPennsylvania does not require a well construction permit, though drillers must be licensed through the DCNR Bureau of Geological Survey; no Tioga County-specific well ordinance was found, and well upkeep is the homeowner's responsibility. source

Living disconnected from utilities

Varies locallyNo countywide rule requires utility hookups; any such requirement, often tied to a certificate of occupancy, would come from the individual township or borough.

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): 2.3 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels: 1,191 kWh

JFMAMJJASOND

Weather1991-2020

Precipitation: 35 in/yr
Heating degree days: 6,902 (cold)
Frost-free season: May 7 to Oct 9

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital Guthrie Troy Community Hospital: 8.5 mi
Fire station Tioga Fire Department: 12.4 mi
Hardware store Beiter's Home Center: 5.8 mi
Grocery Old Mainesburg Store: 2.0 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 16932).

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.