Off-grid site report

Baltimore County, MD

39.3888, -76.7362 · 545 ft elevation
Read this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Baltimore County, MD, 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 rulesBaltimore County, MD

Zoning & raw-land occupancy
RestrictedBaltimore County is comprehensively zoned under the BCZR, enforced by PAI; there's no recognized permanent off-grid/raw-land living use. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
RestrictedBCZR Section 415A allows storing one licensed RV per lot but prohibits living in it; mobile homes/trailers face the same no-occupancy, one-unit rule. Tiny homes on foundations must meet standard dwelling code. source
Building permits & codes
RestrictedPAI issues permits under Maryland Building Performance Standards plus county amendments; permits are time-limited with a possible one-time extension. source
Septic & composting toilets
RestrictedOSDS permits require a licensed designer and installer under joint state COMAR/county COBAR rules via EPS Groundwater Management; composting toilets need local approving-authority documentation from EPS/GWM. source
Greywater reuse
RestrictedNo county-specific greywater ordinance was found; the county appears to default to the state Environment Article limits on greywater sources. Not confirmed whether EPS adds county-level conditions.
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedNo county restriction was found beyond the state's COMAR environmental site design allowance for rainwater harvesting.
Private wells & water rights
RestrictedBaltimore County EPS/GWM is the state-delegated approving authority for well construction and requires a Certificate of Potability before a new well can be used. source
Living disconnected from utilities
RestrictedNo standalone off-grid ban exists, but occupancy approval requires an approved water supply and sewage system, which blocks full utility disconnection in practice. source

Open the full county page with sources →

Sun30-year normals

Peak-sun hours, annual average
4.9 hrs/day
Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
3.5 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
1,406 kWh
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Weather1991-2020

Precipitation
46 in/yr
Snowfall
22 in/yr
Heating degree days
4,681 (moderate)
Frost-free season
Apr 14 to Oct 24

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital
Upper Chesapeake Hospital
22.7 mi
Fire station
Woodlawn Volunteer Fire Company Station 33
4.6 mi
Hardware store
Gardiner Wolf Furniture
2.6 mi
Grocery
ALDI
1.7 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 21208).

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 22, 2026; agencies update their layers on their own schedules. Planning data, not a survey or legal advice.