Off-grid site report
Chautauqua County, KS
37.0255, -96.1781 · 929 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Chautauqua County, KS, 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 rulesChautauqua County, KS
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Unclear - verifyNo countywide zoning ordinance was found on the county's official site. Kansas counties may adopt zoning under K.S.A. 12-741 et seq., but it's optional, and whether Chautauqua County has done so is not confirmed. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyNo county-specific rule on tiny homes, RVs, or minimum dwelling size was found; this is a local matter left unconfirmed for this county.
Building permits & codes
Unclear - verifyKansas has no mandatory statewide building code outside state property; no confirmed Chautauqua County building code or permit program was found. source
Septic & composting toilets
RestrictedKDHE sets statewide minimum design and construction standards for onsite wastewater systems; whether Chautauqua County layers its own sanitary code on top is not confirmed.
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNo Kansas-specific greywater statute and no Chautauqua County ordinance were found; likely folded into KDHE onsite wastewater rules if addressed at all.
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedKansas's Water Appropriation Act exempts domestic-use rainwater harvesting from permitting, and no county restriction was found.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedState well-construction standards (KDHE, K.A.R. 28-30) apply statewide; no confirmed county-specific well-permitting office was found for Chautauqua County.
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo county ordinance requiring connection to public utilities as a condition of occupancy was found.
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 5.2 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 3.9 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,494 kWh
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Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 42 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 12 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 4,361 (moderate)
- Frost-free season
- Apr 7 to Oct 28
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Sedan City Hospital - 7.5 mi
- Fire station
Chautauqua County Rural Fire District 8 - 0.2 mi
- Hardware store
Harbor Freight Tools - 22.7 mi
- Grocery
Walmart Supercenter - 23.9 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 67334).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Chautauqua County, KS?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.
