Off-grid site report
Cobb County, GA
33.9075, -84.4898 · 1,014 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Cobb 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 rulesCobb County, GA
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
RestrictedCobb County has countywide zoning, administered by the Community Development Agency for unincorporated areas, with districts like R-80 setting lot size, density, and use rules. Raw land can't just be occupied; you need to check the zoning district and lot standards before doing anything, and incorporated cities within Cobb (Marietta, Smyrna, etc.) have their own separate codes. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
RestrictedFull-time living in an RV or very small structure is generally not treated as a legal permanent dwelling in unincorporated Cobb; the county's own square-footage standard calls for at least 390 square feet of living space per adult occupant as recorded by the Tax Assessor, and RVs are defined by the Board of Health as temporary lodging, not housing. It's not confirmed whether Cobb has adopted Georgia's optional Tiny House Appendix, so ask the Zoning Division directly if you're planning a small home. source
Building permits & codes
Generally allowedCobb County's Community Development Agency issues building permits and zoning certificates before construction begins, enforcing the state minimum codes. I didn't find any Cobb-specific amendments beyond the state baseline, but confirm current requirements with that office before you build. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedCobb & Douglas Public Health runs a detailed septic (on-site sewage management) approval process, including soil surveys by a certified classifier and proof that public sewer isn't available, plus specific minimum lot sizes depending on whether you're on public water or a private well. Composting toilets aren't separately addressed and fall under the same state Board of Health rules, so check with this office before installing either system. source
Greywater reuse
Generally allowedI found no Cobb-specific greywater ordinance, so this appears to fall back to Georgia's state law allowing greywater reuse. Any greywater system tied to a permitted structure would still go through the same septic or plumbing permitting process, so it's worth double-checking with Cobb & Douglas Public Health.
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedNo Cobb-specific rainwater harvesting ordinance or incentive turned up in my research, so the state's baseline plumbing code rules would apply. Nothing suggests the county restricts this practice.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedCobb County adds its own siting rules on top of state well standards, including specific setbacks from septic tanks, sewer lines, and solid waste sites, and it flatly prohibits cross-connecting a private well with the county water system. You're required to notify the county health department before drilling, and Cobb & Douglas Public Health issues the well application and location permit. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyI couldn't confirm a Cobb-specific ordinance that either allows or bans living fully disconnected from utilities. Since a legal dwelling generally needs to meet occupancy standards plus an approved septic/sewer connection and, if applicable, a permitted well, going fully off-grid for a permanent residence isn't clearly established as lawful in unincorporated Cobb, so I'd ask the Community Development Agency's Zoning Division directly.
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 5.0 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 3.1 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,390 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 55 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 1 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 3,177 (moderate)
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Ridgeview Institute - Smyrna - 3.7 mi
- Fire station
Smyrna Fire Station #1 - 2.0 mi
- Hardware store
Lowe's - 7.4 mi
- Grocery
Publix - 5.4 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 30067).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Cobb 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.