Off-grid site report
Philadelphia County, PA
39.9237, -75.1696 · 36 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Philadelphia County, PA, 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 rulesPhiladelphia County, PA
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
RestrictedPhiladelphia has comprehensive citywide zoning under Title 14 of the Philadelphia Code; every parcel falls within a base district and there is no unzoned raw land, per the city's Department of Licenses & Inspections. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
RestrictedFoundation-built small dwellings must meet the state Uniform Construction Code and the city's Property Maintenance Code habitable-room minimums; whether long-term RV or wheeled tiny home occupancy is allowed citywide is not confirmed, so check with L&I. source
Building permits & codes
RestrictedL&I enforces the state Uniform Construction Code plus city-specific building, electrical, plumbing, and property maintenance titles, and multiple permits are often required before a Certificate of Occupancy is issued. source
Septic & composting toilets
RestrictedMost of the city is on municipal sewer, but where lines are unavailable the Philadelphia Department of Public Health administers septic or private sewer line permits under the state Sewage Facilities Act framework. source
Greywater reuse
RestrictedNo Philadelphia-specific ordinance was found allowing greywater reuse or surface discharge, so the stricter state baseline treating greywater as regulated sewage is inherited by default.
Rainwater harvesting
Varies locallyPWD actively promotes rainwater capture as green stormwater infrastructure and regulates larger projects through its Stormwater Regulations, but using harvested rainwater as a sole potable source is not confirmed as permitted. source
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedPennsylvania DEP does not regulate private homeowner wells statewide, and no Philadelphia-specific well permitting scheme was found, though actual drilling is rare given near-universal PWD service; confirm practicality with PWD and L&I. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Varies locallyNo explicit city ordinance mandates grid connection, but Plumbing Code and Health Code requirements for approved water supply and sewage disposal create practical barriers to full utility disconnection. source
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 4.7 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 3.3 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,358 kWh
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Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 49 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 15 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 4,350 (moderate)
- Frost-free season
- Mar 31 to Nov 17
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Wills Eye Hospital - 1.8 mi
- Fire station
Philadelphia Marine Number 1 Fire Station - 1.6 mi
- Hardware store
Lowe's - 16.2 mi
- Grocery
Whole Foods Market - 1.5 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 19148).
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.