Off-grid site report
Highlands County, FL
27.5120, -81.4947 · 157 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Highlands County, FL, 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 rulesHighlands County, FL
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
RestrictedHighlands County has adopted comprehensive countywide zoning under Chapter 12 of its Land Development Regulations, with specific districts for mobile homes, RV parks, and residential use. The Zoning Division reviews all land-use applications against these districts. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
RestrictedRVs and mobile homes are only permitted in designated zoning districts or parks, not as general raw-land dwellings, per county ordinances. Building permits are required even for structures like RV carports. source
Building permits & codes
Generally allowedThe Highlands County Building Department issues permits under the Florida Building Code and allows owner-builders to self-permit residential construction with a disclosure statement. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedThe Florida Department of Health in Highlands County permits, inspects, and issues annual operating permits for septic systems under the statewide OSTDS framework; county health departments retained permitting authority after the 2020 Clean Waterways Act. Composting toilets are not separately addressed at the county level. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNo Highlands County ordinance on greywater reuse was found; this falls back to the statewide Florida Building Code restriction limiting reuse mainly to toilet/urinal flushing. Confirm with the Building Department if you're planning a greywater system.
Rainwater harvesting
Unclear - verifyNo Highlands County ordinance or DOH-Highlands page addressing rainwater catchment or cisterns was found. Not confirmed either way, so check with Building or Zoning before relying on one.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedThe Florida Department of Health in Highlands County has delegated authority from the state to permit and inspect new domestic well construction, and SFWMD's Okeechobee Service Center handles consumptive water use permits for the county. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo Highlands County ordinance explicitly permits or bans full utility disconnection, but any occupied dwelling still needs Building Department approval and DOH-approved septic or well as applicable.
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 5.6 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 4.9 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,553 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 51 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 0 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 585 (mild)
- Frost-free season
- Feb 2 to Dec 28
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
AdventHealth Sebring - 2.1 mi
- Fire station
Sebring Fire Department Station 15 - 3.1 mi
- Hardware store
The Home Depot - 0.6 mi
- Grocery
Walmart Supercenter - 0.2 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 33872).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Highlands County, FL?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 21, 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.