Off-grid site report
Sauk County, WI
43.2716, -89.7227 · 758 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Sauk 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 rulesSauk County, WI
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Varies locallySauk County has a countywide zoning ordinance run by the Conservation, Planning & Zoning (CPZ) Department, but on many parcels the town, not the county, actually controls zoning depending on what the official zoning map shows. I'd check the county's zoning map first, then confirm with your Town Chair or Clerk which entity truly has jurisdiction over your land. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
RestrictedWisconsin's Uniform Dwelling Code sets the statewide baseline for one- and two-family homes, but in Sauk County each town contracts its own private building inspector, so how tiny homes or full-time RV living get treated really depends on your specific town. I couldn't confirm any single county-wide rule on RV or tiny-home occupancy, so call your Town Chair or Clerk before you plan around it. source
Building permits & codes
Generally allowedLand Use and Sanitary permits go through the county's CPZ Department (now handled online), but the actual building/UDC inspection is delegated to whichever private inspector your town has contracted, so expect a two-track process between county land use permitting and town-level building inspection. source
Septic & composting toilets
RestrictedSauk County administers the state POWTS (Private Onsite Wastewater Treatment System) code locally through its Ch. 25 sanitary ordinance, requiring a permit application, plot plan, septic maintenance agreement, soil tests, and state-approved plans, all tied back to Wis. Stat. §145.20 and Wis. Admin. Code SPS 383. I found nothing on a county-specific composting toilet allowance, so treat the state SPS 383 baseline as what applies and confirm specifics with CPZ. source
Greywater reuse
RestrictedI couldn't find any Sauk County ordinance specifically addressing greywater reuse; it appears to fall under the general POWTS/sanitary permitting framework CPZ administers, with the state DSPS plumbing code as the real baseline. Worth a direct call to CPZ if you're planning a greywater system.
Rainwater harvesting
Varies locallyNo Sauk County rule on rainwater harvesting turned up in my research, so the state DSPS plumbing code baseline (generally fine for outdoor non-potable use, restricted for indoor/potable use) is what likely applies. Not confirmed at the county level, so I'd ask CPZ if you're setting up anything beyond simple outdoor catchment.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedPrivate wells are legal and common in Sauk County, with construction permitting handled by the state DNR under NR 812 rather than the county. The county's Environmental Health division supports well owners through free testing kits (WellTAP) and inspects certain transient non-community wells, but reminds owners that private well safety is ultimately their own responsibility. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyI found no Sauk County ordinance or webpage that directly addresses fully disconnecting a home from electric, gas, or municipal utilities. This mirrors a gap at the state level too, since county permitting materials focus on septic, well, and structural compliance rather than utility connection requirements. Not confirmed, so I'd ask CPZ directly if full off-grid utility disconnection is your plan.
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
- 1,353 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 36 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 7,348 (cold)
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Saint Clare Hospital - 14.5 mi
- Fire station
Black Earth Fire Department - 9.0 mi
- Hardware store
Ace Hardware - 0.3 mi
- Grocery
Piggly Wiggly - 0.4 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 53583).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Sauk 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.