Off-grid site report
Iowa County, WI
42.9676, -90.3304 · 1,181 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Iowa 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 rulesIowa County, WI
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
RestrictedIowa County has had general countywide zoning since the late 1960s, administered by the Office of Planning & Development under state Ch. 59 authority. Nearly all unincorporated land is in a zoning district, so unrestricted raw-land occupancy isn't available. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Varies locallyThe state Uniform Dwelling Code applies statewide but enforcement jurisdiction (town, village, or county) varies within Iowa County; no county-specific tiny-home ordinance was found, so confirm with your municipality. source
Building permits & codes
Generally allowedBuilding permits follow the state UDC, but the enforcing jurisdiction varies by town within the county, and county zoning approval is typically required first. source
Septic & composting toilets
RestrictedIowa County's Sanitary Ordinance, under state statute and administrative code, permits septic systems and non-plumbing systems like composting toilets and privies, but requires county permits, setbacks, and periodic septic pumping verification.
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNo Iowa County-specific greywater ordinance was found beyond the state POWTS/plumbing code baseline; not confirmed, ask the county Sanitarian.
Rainwater harvesting
Unclear - verifyNo county ordinance addressing rainwater harvesting was found; the county appears to simply follow the state baseline where outdoor non-potable use is unregulated.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedPrivate wells are regulated by the state DNR under NR 812, not by a separate Iowa County permit, though well location affects required septic/privy setbacks under county sanitary rules. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo Iowa County ordinance directly authorizes or prohibits full disconnection from electric or municipal utilities; the sanitary ordinance's non-plumbing system option supports partial off-grid setups, but this isn't confirmed as comprehensive policy.
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 4.7 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 2.9 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,371 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 38 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 39 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 7,626 (severe)
- Frost-free season
- May 4 to Oct 4
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Upland Hills Health - 10.2 mi
- Fire station
Montfort Fire House - 5.1 mi
- Hardware store
Hying Hardware - 6.0 mi
- Grocery
Blabaum's Food Center - 6.0 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 53526).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Iowa 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.