Off-grid site report

Washington County, FL

30.7529, -85.5497 · 144 ft elevation
Read this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Washington County, FL, 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 rulesWashington County, FL

Zoning & raw-land occupancy
RestrictedWashington County has countywide zoning under its Land Development Code and Comprehensive Plan, administered by the Planning Department, and this applies in unincorporated areas plus the towns of Caryville, Ebro, Vernon, and Wausau. An approved Land Use Application is required before a building permit can be issued. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyNo specific county ordinance on minimum dwelling size, tiny homes, or RVs-as-residences was confirmed in official sources; the LDC on Municode may address this but wasn't confirmed. Confirm directly with the Planning Department. source
Building permits & codes
Generally allowedThe Washington County Building Department issues permits, reviews plans, and performs inspections under Florida's statewide building code, following required Land Use Application approval, a valid E-911 address, and possibly a driveway permit. Flood zone parcels may need a licensed elevation certificate. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedAs of January 2, 2025, septic (onsite sewage) permitting authority for Washington County moved from the county health department to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection as part of a statewide reorganization covering 16 Northwest Florida counties. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNo Washington County-specific greywater ordinance was found; the county appears to inherit the Florida Building Code's general restriction limiting greywater reuse largely to toilet/urinal flushing through an approved system.
Rainwater harvesting
Unclear - verifyNo county ordinance on rainwater catchment was located; the state baseline is itself unclear, though non-potable catchment is presumptively tolerated. Not confirmed at the county level.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedPrivate wells in Washington County are permitted through the Northwest Florida Water Management District, which requires a well permit for construction, repair, or abandonment, and separately issues consumptive/water-use permits for larger withdrawals. source
Living disconnected from utilities
RestrictedNo explicit county ban on disconnecting from electric or water utilities was found, but occupancy still requires an approved Land Use Application, building permit, and an approved sewage disposal method through DEP, making full off-grid disconnection from regulatory oversight impractical even if utility hookup itself isn't mandated.

Open the full county page with sources →

Sun30-year normals

Peak-sun hours, annual average
5.4 hrs/day
Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
4.2 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
1,505 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND

Weather1991-2020

Precipitation
59 in/yr
Snowfall
0 in/yr
Heating degree days
1,670 (mild)
Frost-free season
Mar 4 to Nov 30

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital
Northwest Florida Community Hospital
1.0 mi
Fire station
none within range
Hardware store
Lowe's
21.5 mi
Grocery
Walmart Supercenter
0.2 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 32428).

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 21, 2026; agencies update their layers on their own schedules. Planning data, not a survey or legal advice.