Off-grid site report

Delaware County, OH

40.1585, -83.0154 · 938 ft elevation

Read this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Delaware County, OH, 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 rulesDelaware County, OH

Zoning & raw-land occupancy

Varies locallyDelaware County has no countywide zoning code; each township (like Orange, Delaware, Genoa) and municipality (like the City of Delaware) sets its own zoning resolution under Ohio law. You'll need to check with the specific township zoning inspector or the City of Delaware's planning department for your parcel. source

Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs

Unclear - verifyI couldn't find a countywide rule on tiny homes or RV living, since this depends entirely on whichever township or city zoning resolution covers your land. Ask your township zoning inspector or the City of Delaware Planning Department how they define allowed dwellings and accessory structures.

Building permits & codes

Generally allowedBuilding permits are required and reviewed against the state Residential Code of Ohio. The Delaware County Building Safety Department handles unincorporated townships, while the City of Delaware runs its own certified building department for in-city construction. source

Septic & composting toilets

Generally allowedHousehold sewage treatment systems are permitted and inspected by the Delaware Public Health District, which reviews site suitability, design, installation, and ongoing operation under state rule OAC 3701-29 plus local sewage disposal rules. Composting toilets aren't separately addressed by name in what I found, so I'd confirm with the health district directly. source

Greywater reuse

Unclear - verifyI found no Delaware County-specific greywater policy. The state framework under OAC 3701-29 would likely require a permit through the local health district, but this isn't confirmed for the county, so check directly with the Delaware Public Health District.

Rainwater harvesting

Unclear - verifyThere's no county-specific page on rainwater harvesting or cisterns that I could find, though the Delaware Public Health District does administer the state's private water system rules (OAC 3701-28), which cover cisterns. Confirm directly with the health district before relying on rainwater as a primary source.

Private wells & water rights

Generally allowedPrivate wells, cisterns, springs, and ponds are permitted as private water systems, but you need a permit from the Delaware Public Health District before construction, conversion, or alteration under state rule administered locally.

Living disconnected from utilities

Unclear - verifyI didn't find any Delaware County ordinance that explicitly forces a property owner to connect to electric, water, or sewer utilities. That said, any water or sewage system you do install, on-grid or off, still has to meet state plumbing code as enforced by the Delaware Public Health District Plumbing Unit.

Open the full county page with sources →

Sun30-year normals

Peak-sun hours, annual average: 4.5 hrs/day
Worst month (sizes an off-grid array): 2.6 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels: 1,285 kWh

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Weather1991-2020

Precipitation: 39 in/yr
Snowfall: 19 in/yr
Heating degree days: 5,324 (moderate)
Frost-free season: Apr 24 to Oct 16

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital Riverside Methodist Hospital: 8.9 mi
Fire station Clinton Township: 8.3 mi
Hardware store The Home Depot: 0.6 mi
Grocery Meijer: 0.4 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 43236).

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