Off-grid site report
Santa Cruz County, CA
36.9675, -122.0039 · 0 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Santa Cruz 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 rulesSanta Cruz County, CA
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
RestrictedSanta Cruz County (Unified Permit Center) prohibits camping, vehicle dwelling, or occupying an RV/THOW on vacant residential parcels as an ongoing use, and the Board of Supervisors can designate 'no camping zones.' source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
RestrictedThe County has a dedicated Tiny Home on Wheels ordinance allowing THOWs as legal dwellings, but it requires permits, seismic tiedowns, and generally connection to approved water/sewage; full off-grid electric-only THOWs were studied but not confirmed as adopted. source
Building permits & codes
RestrictedStandard California Building Standards Code (Title 24) applies statewide and is enforced locally by the County Building Permits & Safety Division; THOWs go through the same ePlan Review as other residential projects. source
Septic & composting toilets
RestrictedCounty Environmental Health administers septic (OWTS) permitting under delegated state/Regional Water Board authority; composting toilets as a general permanent substitute are not confirmed as a countywide right outside a special CZU wildfire rebuild pilot program. source
Greywater reuse
Generally allowedThe County follows the state California Plumbing Code exemption: no permit needed for simple greywater irrigation systems that don't alter existing plumbing, though CPC Chapter 15 minimums still apply. source
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedNo county-specific restriction beyond state law; the County's water-efficient landscape ordinance materials actively favor and encourage rainwater capture. source
Private wells & water rights
RestrictedA County Environmental Health permit is required for any well construction, reconstruction, or destruction countywide under the County's own well ordinance (Chapter 7.70), with extra restrictions in groundwater-stressed areas like the Soquel Creek service area. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo standalone county ordinance was found authorizing full permanent off-grid disconnection from water/sewer/electric; code generally presumes connected water and approved sewage disposal, so confirm your specific plan with County Planning and Environmental Health.
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 5.5 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 3.7 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,519 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 31 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 0 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 2,417 (mild)
- Frost-free season
- Jan 26 to Dec 19
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Menlo Park Surgical Hospital - 35.2 mi
- Fire station
Santa Cruz City Fire Station #1 - 1.4 mi
- Hardware store
Petroglyph Ceramics - 1.3 mi
- Grocery
Beach Market - 0.8 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 95063).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Santa Cruz 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.