Off-grid site report
Deschutes County, OR
44.2903, -121.5482 · 3,189 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Deschutes County, OR, 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 rulesDeschutes County, OR
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
RestrictedDeschutes County (CDD) has countywide zoning; rural residential occupancy is concentrated in MUA-10, RR-10, SR 2.5, UAR-10, and WTZ zones, while farm/forest zones are much more restrictive. This is county-level, not state or town.
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
RestrictedThe county allows RVs as rental dwellings under a state-enabled program, but only alongside an existing primary residence with acreage and utility conditions; no general standalone tiny-home/RV-as-sole-dwelling ordinance was confirmed. Rural ADUs are permitted separately in these zones. source
Building permits & codes
RestrictedDeschutes County Building Safety issues permits under state-adopted codes; no off-grid-specific exemption was found, so standard permitting should be assumed for any habitable structure. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedThe county's Onsite Wastewater (Environmental Soils) Division permits septic systems under DEQ rules, with added local siting standards including groundwater separation and, in South County, site-specific treatment-level review with DEQ. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNo county-specific greywater page was found; this likely falls under Oregon DEQ's statewide greywater program by default, but confirm with the county's Environmental Soils office and DEQ.
Rainwater harvesting
Unclear - verifyNo Deschutes County-specific rainwater harvesting rule was found; the state baseline (roof-catchment collection exempt from water-rights permitting) likely applies, but county building/plumbing code specifics for cisterns weren't confirmed.
Private wells & water rights
Varies locallyWell construction is a state (OWRD) permitting matter, but the county lies within the Deschutes Groundwater Mitigation Program area, adding mitigation requirements for new permitted groundwater uses; typical exempt domestic wells are generally not subject to this, per OWRD. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo blanket grid-hookup ordinance was found for Deschutes County, but the county's septic permitting requirement acts as a practical utility constraint for any habitable structure.
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 5.2 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 2.8 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,494 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 14 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 6,998 (cold)
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Saint Charles Medical Center Redmond - 18.7 mi
- Fire station
Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District - 0.1 mi
- Hardware store
Ace Hardware - 0.1 mi
- Grocery
Ray's Food Place - 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 97759).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Deschutes County, OR?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 21, 2026; agencies update their layers on their own schedules. Planning data, not a survey or legal advice.