Off-grid site report

Wirt County, WV

38.9251, -81.2724 · 791 ft elevation
Read this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Wirt County, WV, 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 rulesWirt County, WV

Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Unclear - verifyNo countywide zoning ordinance was found for Wirt County; descriptive material indicates the county has no zoning ordinance in the traditional sense, and West Virginia counties only get zoning if they choose to adopt it under the state Land Use Planning Act. It's not confirmed whether the town of Elizabeth has its own zoning, so check with the Wirt County Commission or town clerk directly.
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyThere's no official Wirt County ordinance addressing tiny homes or RV occupancy that I could find. Without countywide zoning, occupancy likely comes down to building code and septic/well compliance, but this isn't confirmed at the county level, so ask the County Commission directly.
Building permits & codes
Unclear - verifyI found no official Wirt County building permit or building-code adoption page. West Virginia's State Fire Commission maintains a statewide code that localities can optionally adopt, but whether Wirt County or Elizabeth has adopted it isn't confirmed, so I'd check with the County Commission.
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedSeptic systems are permitted and regulated through the state's public health sanitation framework, with local permitting handled by the Mid-Ohio Valley Health Department, which explicitly covers Wirt County. Note that Wirt is listed as exempt from a specific state 'HAU Construction Permit' requirement, though standard individual septic permitting through the health department still applies. source
Greywater reuse
RestrictedI couldn't find a Wirt County-specific greywater ordinance, so greywater disposal falls under the same state sewage/septic standards enforced locally by the Mid-Ohio Valley Health Department. Treat it as regulated rather than freely permitted until you confirm specifics with that office.
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedNo official Wirt County or Mid-Ohio Valley Health Department page addresses rainwater harvesting, and nothing suggests a local restriction beyond the general state baseline, which treats non-potable collection as unregulated.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedPrivate well construction in Wirt County falls under West Virginia's statewide Water Well Certification Program, requiring certified drillers, with no separate county well ordinance found. Local well and septic interactions, like setbacks, are handled through the Mid-Ohio Valley Health Department under the same statewide standards.
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyI found no official Wirt County statute or policy requiring hookup to electric, water, or sewer utilities. As with the state baseline, this seems tied only to septic and well compliance rather than a standalone mandatory-connection rule, but it's not confirmed specifically for Wirt County.

Open the full county page with sources →

Sun30-year normals

Peak-sun hours, annual average
4.4 hrs/day
Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
2.7 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
1,198 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND

Weather1991-2020

Precipitation
45 in/yr
Snowfall
15 in/yr
Heating degree days
5,493 (moderate)
Frost-free season
May 1 to Oct 14

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital
Roane General Hospital
9.3 mi
Fire station
Grantsville Volunteer Fire Department
9.5 mi
Hardware store
Hardman's
9.4 mi
Grocery
FoodLand
9.5 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 26141).

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.