Off-grid site report
Dinwiddie County, VA
37.0823, -77.5831 · 285 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Dinwiddie County, VA, 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 rulesDinwiddie County, VA
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
RestrictedDinwiddie County has countywide zoning administered by the Planning and Zoning Department; agricultural districts like A-2 allow single-family homes but require minimum lot size and road frontage. Raw-land occupancy without an approved structure is not a confirmed legal category. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyNo county-specific rule on tiny homes or long-term RV occupancy was found; the county enforces the state Uniform Statewide Building Code, which generally treats RVs/THOWs as vehicles, not dwellings. Confirm specifics with Building Inspections.
Building permits & codes
Generally allowedBuilding Inspections enforces the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code locally, reviewing structural, electrical, mechanical, and plumbing work; permit fees are set by county ordinance but exact figures aren't confirmed here. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedThe Dinwiddie County Health Department, under Virginia Department of Health rules, handles soil evaluations and permitting for onsite sewage systems; a permit is required before the county issues a building permit. Since 2019, most applications need a licensed private-sector consultant. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNo Dinwiddie-specific greywater ordinance was found; this appears to fall under the state VDH framework administered through the local health department, but county specifics are not confirmed. source
Rainwater harvesting
Unclear - verifyNo county-specific rainwater ordinance was located; Virginia's statewide Tier 4 permitting and registration program for rainwater harvesting appears to be the governing framework, with no confirmed county supplement. source
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedPrivate wells are common outside the limited Dinwiddie County Water Authority service area, and are permitted through the Virginia Department of Health via the county Health Department, required before a building permit is issued. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo Dinwiddie ordinance requires a grid electric hookup, but occupancy still depends on approved septic and well permits. County solar rules address commercial solar farms, not residential off-grid systems, so that status is unconfirmed; ask Building Inspections directly.
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 5.0 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 3.7 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,354 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 47 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 8 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 3,812 (moderate)
- Frost-free season
- Apr 7 to Oct 29
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Bon Secours - Southside Regional Medical Center - 14.1 mi
- Fire station
Dinwiddie County Division of Fire / Emergency Medical Services - 0.2 mi
- Hardware store
Thacker Ace Hardware - 13.8 mi
- Grocery
Food Lion - 0.9 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 23841).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Dinwiddie County, VA?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 22, 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.