Off-grid site report

Madison County, NY

43.0545, -75.8469 · 453 ft elevation

Read this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Madison County, NY, 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 rulesMadison County, NY

Zoning & raw-land occupancy

Varies locallyMadison County has no countywide zoning ordinance; each town and village sets its own zoning independently. The County Planning Department's role under state law is limited to referral review of local zoning actions, not direct regulation of parcels. source

Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs

Varies locallyNot confirmed at the county level; dwelling, tiny home, and RV rules are set by each town or village zoning code (e.g., Village of Hamilton, Town of Sullivan). Check the specific municipal code. source

Building permits & codes

RestrictedBuilding permits are issued by town/village Code Enforcement Officers under the NYS Uniform Code and Energy Code; applications must show compliance details including any well or septic system, per examples like the Town of Sullivan's construction code. source

Septic & composting toilets

RestrictedMadison County's Environmental Health Division permits septic and onsite wastewater systems, including composting toilets, under the New York State Sanitary Code and public health law. This is one of the few functions the county handles directly rather than the town. source

Greywater reuse

Unclear - verifyNo Madison County-specific greywater ordinance was found; this falls back to the New York State Sanitary Code / Department of Health baseline. Ask the county Environmental Health Division if in doubt.

Rainwater harvesting

Unclear - verifyNo county-specific rainwater harvesting rule was found; this inherits the state baseline framework, which generally permits non-potable collection.

Private wells & water rights

Generally allowedNo Madison County ordinance requiring an added county well permit was found; private wells remain governed by state Department of Health standards and DEC-registered well drillers. source

Living disconnected from utilities

Varies locallyWhether a dwelling must connect to grid utilities depends on the specific town or village building/occupancy code; no countywide mandate was found. source

Open the full county page with sources →

Sun30-year normals

Peak-sun hours, annual average: 4.2 hrs/day
Worst month (sizes an off-grid array): 2.2 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels: 1,166 kWh

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Weather1991-2020

Precipitation: 49 in/yr
Snowfall: 63 in/yr
Heating degree days: 6,643 (cold)
Frost-free season: Apr 18 to Nov 7
Design low: -3 °F

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital Syracuse Veterans Affairs Medical Center: 14.8 mi
Fire station Chittenango Fire Department: 1.0 mi
Hardware store Chittenango Lumber: 0.8 mi
Grocery Tops Friendly Markets: 2.7 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 13037).

Size a solar system Heat loss & insulation Firewood per winter Rainwater harvest Garden size Panel tilt

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.