Off-grid site report

Hillsborough County, NH

42.9076, -71.7665 · 883 ft elevation

Read this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Hillsborough County, NH, 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 rulesHillsborough County, NH (state framework; no county page yet)

Zoning & raw-land occupancy

Varies locallyZoning authority is delegated entirely to municipalities under RSA 674; the state doesn't zone land itself, though a 2025 state law now requires towns to allow at least one ADU per single-family lot. source

Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs

Varies locallyTiny homes on wheels are generally treated as RVs and confined to campgrounds/RV parks unless a town allows them as ADUs; foundation-built tiny homes go through the ADU process under RSA 674:71-73, town by town. source

Building permits & codes

Varies locallyThe state has adopted a building and fire code under RSA 155-A, but RSA 155-A:2, III reserves permit issuance and enforcement to counties, towns, and cities that have chosen to authorize it, so enforcement is a local decision. source

Septic & composting toilets

Varies locallyNH DES's Subsurface Systems Bureau regulates septic statewide under Env-Wq 1000; composting/portable toilets are acknowledged in DHHS guidance and campground law, but a clear statewide standard for permanent residential composting toilets was not confirmed, so ask your local health officer and DES. source

Greywater reuse

Unclear - verifyNo dedicated statewide DES rule for residential greywater reuse was found; existing DES water-reuse guidance covers treated municipal wastewater, not household greywater. Confirm directly with NH DES. source

Rainwater harvesting

Generally allowedNew Hampshire's adopted 2018 Residential Code (Ch. 29) and Plumbing Code (Ch. 13) allow rainwater harvesting for indoor non-potable uses; outdoor collection isn't separately regulated by the state.

Private wells & water rights

Generally allowedPrivate well construction is licensed at the state level by the NH Water Well Board under RSA 482-B, with siting rules (setbacks) and a required Well Record filing by the contractor after drilling; no separate state drilling permit is issued. source

Living disconnected from utilities

Varies locallyNo statewide law bans off-grid utility disconnection, but local health ordinances and subdivision regulations in some towns can require water/sewer hookups, so this depends on the specific municipality.

Open the full state page with sources →

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: 1,306 kWh

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Weather1991-2020

Precipitation: 48 in/yr
Snowfall: 56 in/yr
Heating degree days: 6,993 (cold)
Frost-free season: May 4 to Oct 5

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital Elliot Hospital: 17.5 mi
Fire station Station 1: 8.2 mi
Hardware store Agway: 6.4 mi
Grocery Market Basket: 5.5 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 03082).

Size a solar system Heat loss & insulation Firewood per winter Rainwater harvest Garden size Panel tilt

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.