Off-grid site report
Ventura County, CA
34.2728, -119.2610 · 121 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Ventura County, CA, 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 rulesVentura County, CA
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Varies locallyVentura County RMA Planning runs two parallel ordinances (Coastal and Non-Coastal) and whether off-grid occupancy of raw land is allowed depends entirely on the parcel's zone designation, not a countywide rule. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
RestrictedRV/trailer living appears limited mainly to agricultural farmworker/caretaker uses per secondary sources, not confirmed on an official county page; permanent mobilehome residences must meet state Title 25 foundation standards as adopted by the county. source
Building permits & codes
RestrictedRMA Building and Safety Division requires standard permitting, plan check, and inspection under Title 24; no off-grid exemption was found. source
Septic & composting toilets
RestrictedRMA Environmental Health's OWTS (septic) program requires individual site evaluation and a Permit to Construct for new systems; composting toilets as a standalone system are not confirmed as broadly authorized. source
Greywater reuse
Generally allowedVentura County RMA Building and Safety follows the state Plumbing Code; simple clothes-washer-only greywater systems in one- or two-family homes are exempt from a construction permit. source
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedRMA provides rainwater catchment guidance alongside greywater rules, with no extra permit requirement found beyond standard construction code and mosquito-control best practices. source
Private wells & water rights
RestrictedPublic Works' Watershed Protection District, Groundwater Section requires a well permit under county Well Ordinance No. 4468; parcels inside the Fox Canyon Groundwater Management Agency boundary need FCGMA pre-approval first. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo standalone off-grid ordinance was found, but RMA Environmental Health requires proof of a permanent potable water supply and an approved sewage disposal method before approving discretionary projects, which functionally limits fully disconnected occupancy. source
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 6.1 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 5.1 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,647 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 15 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 2,034 (mild)
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Ventura County Medical Center - 0.6 mi
- Fire station
San Buenaventura Fire Station No. 2 - 0.4 mi
- Hardware store
Lowe's - 1.0 mi
- Grocery
Smart & Final - 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 93002).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Ventura County, CA?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 22, 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.