Off-grid site report
York County, PA
39.8173, -76.8417 · 656 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for York 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 rulesYork County, PA
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Varies locallyYork County has no countywide zoning ordinance; each of the 72 municipalities (townships, boroughs, City of York) adopts its own zoning under the state Municipalities Planning Code. Check the specific municipality's zoning map and ordinance. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Varies locallyNo county-specific rule found on tiny homes, RVs, or minimum dwelling size; these are set township-by-township, as seen in Penn Township's separate mobile-home chapter. Confirm with the specific municipal office.
Building permits & codes
RestrictedEach municipality administers Pennsylvania's Uniform Construction Code itself, and permits are required before construction in municipalities like York Township and Jackson Township. There is no single county building department since Pennsylvania is fully municipalized. source
Septic & composting toilets
RestrictedEvery PA municipality with on-lot sewage must have a DEP-certified Sewage Enforcement Officer administering the state's Act 537, and many York County townships add their own on-lot sewage ordinances requiring periodic pump-outs by licensed haulers. source
Greywater reuse
RestrictedNo York County or municipal ordinance was found loosening the state DEP position that treats greywater as sewage subject to on-lot permitting; treat it as inheriting that state baseline.
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedNo county or municipal restriction was found on rainwater harvesting for non-potable use; it appears to follow the permissive state baseline.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedYork County does not run its own health department with well permitting, so private wells are governed mainly by the state's driller-licensing law (Act 610) and DEP; the York County Conservation District assists with well education and testing. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo county-wide rule requiring grid utility hookup was found, but some municipal property-maintenance codes may tie occupancy certificates to utility service, so this needs checking at the township or borough level.
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 4.7 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 3.2 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,341 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 41 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 5,482 (moderate)
- Frost-free season
- Apr 25 to Oct 15
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Gettysburg Hospital ER Entrance - 20.9 mi
- Fire station
Porters Fire Company Station Number 53 - 3.0 mi
- Hardware store
Forge Hardware - 4.9 mi
- Grocery
Kennie's Market - 4.8 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 17354).
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.