Off-grid site report
Pierce County, WI
44.8623, -92.6937 · 1,063 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Pierce County, WI, 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 rulesPierce County, WI
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
RestrictedPierce County has countywide zoning (Ch. 240) administered by the Department of Land Management, and requires a land use permit for any structure 6 inches or taller off the ground, even temporary ones. Zoning districts like Primary Agriculture limit residential density on raw land. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
RestrictedRVs used as dwellings need a county building permit plus mechanical/plumbing permits for hookups; tiny homes on foundations fall under the state Uniform Dwelling Code as administered by the county. source
Building permits & codes
Generally allowedNew construction goes through the county Building Official under the state UDC, plus the county's separate land use permit requirement for structures over 6 inches tall. source
Septic & composting toilets
RestrictedPierce County adopted its own Private Sewage System Ordinance under state law, and the county Zoning Administrator is the official POWTS issuing agent; privies and composting toilets are allowed via a specific county permit packet. source
Greywater reuse
RestrictedNot confirmed at the county level; no Pierce County ordinance specifically addresses greywater beyond referencing the state POWTS/plumbing code, so it likely inherits the state's limited-reuse baseline. Confirm with Land Management.
Rainwater harvesting
Varies locallyNot confirmed; no county ordinance on rainwater catchment was found, so it likely inherits the state baseline where outdoor non-potable collection is unregulated and indoor/potable use falls under state plumbing code.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedWells are governed by the Wisconsin DNR's well and pump code; Pierce County Land Management and Public Health support (but don't mandate) testing and provide well-log lookups. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo Pierce County ordinance was found that requires or prohibits full disconnection from electric/municipal utilities for a legal dwelling; this remains unconfirmed and mirrors the unclear state baseline. Ask Land Management directly.
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 4.6 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 2.8 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,332 kWh
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Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 32 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 46 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 8,281 (severe)
- Frost-free season
- May 15 to Sep 28
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
St. Joseph's Hospital - 20.8 mi
- Fire station
Bayport Fire Department - 11.6 mi
- Hardware store
Menards - 6.6 mi
- Grocery
Family Fresh - 3.3 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 54022).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Pierce County, WI?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.