Off-grid site report

Pleasants County, WV

39.3240, -81.1804 · 787 ft elevation

Read this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Pleasants 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 rulesPleasants County, WV

Zoning & raw-land occupancy

Unclear - verifyNo countywide zoning ordinance was found for Pleasants County; only the City of St. Marys has an adopted zoning code, and it applies only inside city limits. Confirm with the Pleasants County Commission whether any county-level zoning exists. source

Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs

Unclear - verifyNo county ordinance on tiny homes, THOWs, or RV occupancy was found. Inside St. Marys, city zoning use-district rules apply; outside city limits this is not confirmed either way. source

Building permits & codes

Unclear - verifyNo Pleasants County building permit ordinance or building department was found. Building code adoption in West Virginia is a local option, and it's not confirmed whether the unincorporated county has adopted one. source

Septic & composting toilets

Generally allowedOnsite sewage systems, including composting toilet setups, are permitted through the state Bureau for Public Health via the Wheeling District Office of Environmental Health Services, which covers Pleasants County. Home Aeration Unit permits for Pleasants go through the standard state online process. source

Greywater reuse

RestrictedNo county-specific greywater rule was found; the state baseline requires greywater disposal to be part of an OEHS-approved onsite sewage design.

Rainwater harvesting

Generally allowedNo state or county rule restricting non-potable rainwater collection was found for Pleasants County.

Private wells & water rights

Generally allowedPrivate wells are regulated statewide under the Bureau for Public Health's Water Well Certification Program and must be drilled by a WV certified driller; no Pleasants-specific well permit page was confirmed, but the local health department likely administers it as in comparable counties.

Living disconnected from utilities

Unclear - verifyNo Pleasants County ordinance requiring hookup to electric, water, or sewer utilities was found; off-grid status appears to depend mainly on septic and well compliance, but this is not confirmed as a formal policy.

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: 1,225 kWh

JFMAMJJASOND

Weather1991-2020

Precipitation: 43 in/yr
Snowfall: 24 in/yr
Heating degree days: 5,341 (moderate)
Frost-free season: Apr 25 to Oct 21

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital Selby General Hospital: 16.2 mi
Fire station Ellensboro Volunteer Fire Station: 7.8 mi
Hardware store Lowe's: 13.7 mi
Grocery Food Giant: 4.9 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 26170).

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.