Off-grid site report
Cabell County, WV
38.4207, -82.4487 · 558 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Cabell County, WV, 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 rulesCabell County, WV
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Unclear - verifyI couldn't find an official countywide zoning ordinance for unincorporated Cabell County. The City of Huntington has its own zoning code that applies within city limits, but for unincorporated land you'd need to ask the Cabell County Office of Planning & Permits or Cabell County Planning Department directly whether any zoning applies to your parcel. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyThere's no specific Cabell County rule I found addressing tiny homes or RVs as dwellings, but the County Commission does treat mobile homes as 'new structures' requiring the same building registration as any other construction. Confirm any occupancy or size standards with the Office of Planning & Permits before setting up a non-traditional dwelling. source
Building permits & codes
RestrictedCabell County requires a Building Registration Certificate (and possibly a Floodplain Permit) before any new construction or remodeling, administered by the County Commission's Office of Planning & Permits. The application also asks about septic/sewer, water availability, and IBC code compliance. source
Septic & composting toilets
RestrictedSeptic systems need approval through the Cabell-Huntington Health Department, or you need proof of a sewer tap where public sewer is available, and this is checked as part of the county's building permit process. Composting toilets aren't specifically addressed in what I found, so I'd ask the Health Department's Environmental Health division directly if that's your plan. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyI found no Cabell County or Health Department policy specifically covering greywater separate from standard septic/sewage rules. This likely falls under the same onsite sewage design standards the Health Department and state Bureau for Public Health use, but you should confirm directly with the Cabell-Huntington Health Department. source
Rainwater harvesting
Unclear - verifyNo Cabell County or Health Department page addressing rainwater harvesting turned up in the research, which suggests it's likely unregulated for non-potable use, but that's not officially confirmed. Worth a quick check with the county or health department if you're planning a larger catchment system.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedPrivate wells are allowed but must be drilled by a licensed well driller, and the Cabell-Huntington Health Department maintains a list of approved drillers and pump installers as part of its Environmental Engineering oversight. Water availability is also confirmed as part of the county building permit application. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyI didn't find a standalone Cabell County ordinance mandating hookup to public utilities. The building permit process asks you to disclose septic/water status rather than requiring a grid connection, so going off-grid on utilities doesn't appear to block permitting as long as your septic and well are documented and approved, but confirm specifics with the Office of Planning & Permits. source
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 4.6 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 2.8 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,237 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 43 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 12 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 4,499 (moderate)
- Frost-free season
- Apr 13 to Oct 25
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Saint Mary's Medical Center - 2.7 mi
- Fire station
Centennial Fire Station - 0.4 mi
- Hardware store
General Building Supply - 0.3 mi
- Grocery
Kroger - 0.6 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 25708).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Cabell County, WV?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.