Off-grid site report

Furnas County, NE

40.1517, -99.8404 · 2,225 ft elevation
Read this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Furnas County, NE, 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 rulesFurnas County, NE

Zoning & raw-land occupancy
RestrictedFurnas County has a countywide Comprehensive Development Plan and zoning ordinance administered by the County Planning and Zoning office, Planning Commission, and Board of Adjustment. This covers unincorporated county land; incorporated towns may have their own separate codes. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
RestrictedThe county zoning resolution explicitly names tents, cabins, house trailers, and automobile trailers as regulated structures for location, height, and bulk. Specific setback or foundation standards for manufactured homes were not confirmed in the excerpts reviewed, so ask Planning and Zoning directly. source
Building permits & codes
Unclear - verifyFurnas County Planning and Zoning appears to administer building permits in unincorporated areas, but which building code edition, if any, the county has formally adopted is not confirmed. Incorporated towns may run separate permitting. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedSeptic systems fall under the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy's statewide Onsite Wastewater Program, with Furnas County served by a regional NDEE office; no separate county septic ordinance was found. Most systems qualify for 'Authorization by Rule' rather than a state construction permit. source
Greywater reuse
RestrictedNo Furnas County-specific greywater ordinance was found, so the Nebraska state baseline applies: untreated greywater discharge is restricted under NDEE rules, while treated or permitted reuse is allowed. source
Rainwater harvesting
Unclear - verifyNo Furnas County ordinance addressing rainwater collection was located, and no explicit state ban was found either, so this is not confirmed either way, best to ask the county directly.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedPrivate wells follow Nebraska's statewide Water Well Standards and registration programs through NDEE, with local groundwater management coordinated by the Furnas Natural Resources District, a separate political subdivision from county government. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Varies locallyNo Furnas County ordinance requiring grid power or municipal sewer hookup was found for unincorporated land, but incorporated towns within the county may have their own hookup requirements that are not confirmed here. source

Open the full county page with sources →

Sun30-year normals

Peak-sun hours, annual average
5.4 hrs/day
Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
3.8 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
1,564 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND

Weather1991-2020

Precipitation
24 in/yr
Snowfall
25 in/yr
Heating degree days
6,016 (cold)
Frost-free season
May 2 to Oct 2

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital
Cambridge Memorial Hospital
20.0 mi
Fire station
Beaver City Volunteer Fire Department
1.4 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 68926).

Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt

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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.