Off-grid site report
Decatur County, KS
39.8261, -100.5389 · 2,664 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Decatur County, KS, 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 rulesDecatur County, KS
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Unclear - verifyKansas zoning is optional and county-enacted under state law; no official Decatur County zoning ordinance or planning document could be confirmed. Call the county clerk/commission to check current status. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyNo Decatur County rule on tiny homes or RV occupancy was found. Kansas has no statewide law on this, so it would fall to local zoning/health authority, which is itself unconfirmed here. source
Building permits & codes
Unclear - verifyNo Decatur County building code or permitting office was confirmed. Kansas has no mandatory statewide building code, so this is locally determined and unverified for this county. source
Septic & composting toilets
RestrictedDecatur County has an adopted sanitary code (1993) on file with KDHE's Local Environmental Protection Program, and septic systems must meet the state's Bulletin 4-2 design standards. Composting toilets aren't specifically addressed; confirm with the county sanitary code administrator. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNo Decatur County greywater-specific provision was found; it likely falls under the general sanitary code and state Bulletin 4-2 discharge/nuisance rules, but the exact text wasn't confirmed. source
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedNo county restriction found. Rainwater collection is covered by the state's Water Appropriation Act domestic-use exemption administered by the Kansas Division of Water Resources.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedPrivate domestic wells must be constructed by a KDHE-licensed contractor under state law, and the county's sanitary code administers private well provisions locally alongside septic. Domestic use is typically exempt from water-right permitting. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo Decatur County ordinance requiring utility hookup for occupancy was found, and Kansas has no statewide mandate either, but this remains unconfirmed at the county level. Ask the county building/zoning office directly.
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 5.5 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 4.0 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,571 kWh
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Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 23 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 30 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 6,010 (cold)
- Frost-free season
- May 2 to Oct 4
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Decatur County Hospital - 0.7 mi
- Fire station
Decatur County Rural Fire Department 1 - 0.5 mi
- Hardware store
- none within range
- Grocery
- none within range
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 67749).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Decatur County, KS?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.