Off-grid site report
Jerome County, ID
42.7238, -114.5188 · 3,760 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Jerome County, ID, 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 rulesJerome County, ID
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Varies locallyJerome County has its own countywide zoning ordinance administered by Planning & Zoning, organized by district (agricultural, residential, etc.), so what's allowed on raw land depends on the parcel's zone. This is separate from City of Jerome and City of Hazelton municipal zoning. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
RestrictedRV placement and occupancy is regulated locally per Idaho DOPL guidance, but Jerome County's specific limits on RV residency duration and zoning restrictions are not confirmed on an official county page; tiny homes on permanent foundations are treated as standard dwellings under the building code. source
Building permits & codes
RestrictedJerome County Building Department enforces the 2018 International Residential Code with local amendments for unincorporated areas; small detached accessory structures under a set floor area are exempt, and agricultural buildings only need a zoning permit and ag siting permit. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedSouth Central Public Health District, a regional health district covering Jerome County, reviews and issues permits for new, replacement, and enlarged septic systems, implementing the state DEQ framework locally. source
Greywater reuse
RestrictedNo Jerome County-specific greywater ordinance exists; greywater falls under the same SCPHD subsurface sewage disposal permitting process as septic, so pre-approval through SCPHD is expected.
Rainwater harvesting
Unclear - verifyNo official Jerome County or SCPHD page addresses residential rooftop rainwater collection; this inherits the state's general unclear status under prior-appropriation water law.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedNo Jerome County-specific well ordinance was found; well drilling and water rights remain governed statewide by the Idaho Department of Water Resources, unchanged from the state baseline.
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo explicit Jerome County ordinance addresses full utility disconnection directly; occupancy is governed indirectly through building code compliance and SCPHD septic approval regardless of grid connection. source
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 5.4 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 2.9 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,544 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 11 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 6,335 (cold)
- Frost-free season
- May 12 to Oct 4
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Saint Luke's Jerome Medical Center - 0.4 mi
- Fire station
Twin Falls Fire Department Station 2 - 9.6 mi
- Hardware store
The Home Depot - 9.8 mi
- Grocery
Ridley's Family Markets - 0.6 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 83338).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Jerome County, ID?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.