Off-grid site report
Waushara County, WI
44.0361, -89.5245 · 1,066 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Waushara 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 rulesWaushara County, WI
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Varies locallyWaushara County has countywide zoning under Chapter 42, and land use permits are required for most structures 150 sq ft or larger, or improvements adding $2,000+ in value. A minimum dwelling size (720 sq ft, 1,200 sq ft in the Town of Deerfield) also applies, and dwelling permits can't be issued until a sanitary permit is secured. Check with the county Zoning and Land Conservation Department before assuming you can occupy raw land with a minimal structure. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
RestrictedThe county treats travel trailers, campers, and mobile units as temporary living quarters, not permanent dwellings, and a conditional use permit is referenced for storing an unoccupied camper. A tiny home or RV used as a year-round residence would generally need to meet Uniform Dwelling Code standards and the minimum size threshold, though rules can differ in the Town of Warren, Village of Wild Rose, and City of Wautoma where the county doesn't administer UDC. source
Building permits & codes
Generally allowedThe county administers the Uniform Dwelling Code for most municipalities, requiring permits and inspections for new one- and two-family dwellings, additions, remodels, pools, and electrical service changes, except in the Town of Warren, Village of Wild Rose, and City of Wautoma (with a partial exception for Town of Warren new construction). A separate zoning/land use permit is also required. source
Septic & composting toilets
RestrictedThe county enforces the state POWTS code, requiring permits, licensed installers, soil testing, and a mandatory inspection every three years regardless of whether the dwelling is used year-round or only seasonally. If you have no plumbing or running water, the county allows a non-plumbing sanitary permit (vault privy, incinerating or composting toilet) under state administrative code, but some form of sanitation must be on the property if there's a dwelling. Confirm specifics with the Zoning and Land Conservation Department. source
Greywater reuse
RestrictedI didn't find a Waushara County ordinance specifically addressing greywater reuse, so the state's plumbing code framework through the Department of Safety and Professional Services appears to be the operative baseline. Ask the county Zoning and Land Conservation Department to confirm before setting up a greywater system.
Rainwater harvesting
Unclear - verifyNo county-specific rule on rainwater catchment turned up in the zoning, building, or environmental health pages I reviewed, so this isn't confirmed one way or the other locally. The statewide plumbing code framework would be the fallback; check with the county Building Inspector's office if you're planning a system tied to structures.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedPrivate wells are governed by the state's Well and Pump Code for construction and siting, and the county's Public Health Department runs a testing support program, recommending annual testing and offering guidance on coliform and nitrate contamination. No additional county-level well-construction ordinance was found.
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyI found no Waushara County ordinance that directly bans going off the electric or municipal water grid, but the requirement that any dwelling have some form of sanitary facility on-site means full off-grid living still requires either a standard septic permit or a non-plumbing sanitation permit. Confirm with the Zoning and Land Conservation Department whether other utility disconnection rules apply to your situation.
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 4.6 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 2.5 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,339 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 33 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 50 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 7,917 (severe)
- Frost-free season
- May 7 to Oct 1
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Gundersen Moundview Hospital - 15.4 mi
- Fire station
Plainfield Fire Department - 12.3 mi
- Hardware store
Bignell's Power Sports - 10.7 mi
- Grocery
Piggly Wiggly - 12.8 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 54930).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Waushara 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.