Off-grid site report
Camas County, ID
43.3424, -114.5956 · 5,026 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Camas 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 rulesCamas County, ID
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
RestrictedCamas County has its own adopted Zoning Ordinance and Comprehensive Plan administered by the county Planning and Zoning Office; raw-land occupancy specifics beyond dwelling permits are not confirmed. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
RestrictedThe county requires a building permit for all dwellings no matter the size, including tiny homes; manufactured/mobile homes have additional state-standard requirements. Whether a standalone RV can be a permanent residence is not confirmed. source
Building permits & codes
RestrictedCamas County's own Building Department issues permits and requires engineering review for dwellings and commercial structures, per its Ordinance 160. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedSouth Central Public Health District reviews and permits septic systems for Camas County, following the standard Idaho DEQ framework; pre-1971 systems may lack permit records. source
Greywater reuse
RestrictedNo Camas County specific greywater rule was found; SCPHD would review it under the same septic/land-development authority as the state baseline. Confirm directly with SCPHD.
Rainwater harvesting
Unclear - verifyNo Camas County, SCPHD, or state source specifically addresses residential rooftop rainwater collection.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedIdaho Department of Water Resources issues well drilling permits statewide and requires a licensed driller; domestic wells need no extra approvals beyond the drilling permit. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo explicit Camas County ordinance requires connection to grid utilities; this appears to be handled case-by-case through building and septic permit review, not confirmed as a standalone rule. source
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 5.5 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 2.9 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,559 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 13 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 8,734 (severe)
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
St Luke's Wood River Medical Center - 24.5 mi
- Fire station
Fairfield Fire Department - 9.9 mi
- Hardware store
- none within range
- Grocery
Camas Creek Country Store - 9.9 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 83327).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Camas 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.