Off-grid site report
Orange County, VA
38.2454, -78.1108 · 551 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Orange 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 rulesOrange County, VA
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Varies locallyOrange County Planning & Zoning administers the County Zoning Ordinance countywide; any existing parcel is generally buildable if setbacks, floodplain, and district rules are met. The Town of Orange has a separate zoning ordinance for land within town limits. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
RestrictedTiny homes are treated like any single-family home if permitted in the zoning district, but per the County FAQ they must be on a permanent foundation with permanent water/wastewater service; RVs/campers cannot be permanently occupied outside an approved campground. source
Building permits & codes
Generally allowedVirginia's Uniform Statewide Building Code is administered locally by Orange County Building Inspections; a Zoning Permit and Erosion Control Permit come first, and VDH well/septic approval (or utility connection) is required before a building permit issues. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedThe local Virginia Department of Health office permits private sewage systems under state regulation; a building permit won't issue without VDH approval. Composting toilet specifics for Orange County are not confirmed, so ask VDH directly. source
Greywater reuse
Generally allowedGreywater reuse is governed by state law and VDH regulation, not a county ordinance; no Orange County-specific greywater rule was found, so local specifics are not confirmed. source
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedRainwater harvesting is regulated by the state in tiers and must also meet the building code and any local ordinances; no Orange County-specific rainwater ordinance was found, so confirm locally. source
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedPrivate wells require a VDH permit before the county will issue a building permit, with VDH or a licensed driller setting siting and construction requirements. source
Living disconnected from utilities
RestrictedNo county mandate for grid electric was found, but a dwelling must have permanent water and wastewater service per County FAQ guidance, so full off-grid disconnection from water/sewer systems isn't allowed. source
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 5.0 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 3.8 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,357 kWh
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Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 43 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 18 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 4,503 (moderate)
- Frost-free season
- Apr 8 to Oct 28
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Culpeper Medical Center - 15.4 mi
- Fire station
Orange County Rescue Squad Station Number 23 - 0.3 mi
- Hardware store
Servpro - 0.2 mi
- Grocery
Food Lion - 0.8 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 22989).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Orange 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.