Off-grid site report
Putnam County, GA
33.2958, -83.3863 · 568 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Putnam County, GA, 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 rulesPutnam County, GA
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
RestrictedPutnam County has a full countywide zoning ordinance, including an Agricultural district, administered by the Planning and Zoning Department; land use is actively regulated, not zoning-free. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyNo official Putnam County source confirms specific tiny-home or ADU size thresholds; any dwelling goes through Planning & Zoning and must meet adopted state minimum codes. Confirm directly with the county office. source
Building permits & codes
Generally allowedPutnam County requires building permits for new construction, additions, accessory structures, and manufactured/modular homes, processed through Planning & Development / Building Inspections. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedThe Putnam County Health Department (North Central Health District) administers septic permitting via site evaluation, application, permit issuance, and inspection; composting toilets are not separately addressed and likely fall under the state DPH onsite sewage rules. source
Greywater reuse
Generally allowedNo county-specific greywater ordinance was found; this appears to default to Georgia's state greywater statute, with county Environmental Health handling any system tied to septic.
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedNo Putnam County ordinance restricts rainwater harvesting; it follows the state plumbing code baseline, though any structure-tied cistern still needs a county building permit.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedPrivate wells require a permit and site evaluation through the Putnam County Environmental Health Department, consistent with Georgia's Water Well Standards Act. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo Putnam County ordinance directly addresses full utility disconnection; it appears achievable through standard zoning, building, septic, and well permitting, but there's no official standalone policy confirmed.
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 5.3 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 4.0 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,405 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 47 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 1 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 2,598 (mild)
- Frost-free season
- Mar 30 to Nov 9
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Putnam General Hospital - 2.9 mi
- Fire station
Eatonton Fire Department - 2.1 mi
- Hardware store
Holloway's Ace Hardware - 1.9 mi
- Grocery
Walmart Supercenter - 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 31024).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Putnam County, GA?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.