Off-grid site report
Lucas County, IA
41.0286, -93.4612 · 883 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Lucas County, IA, 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 rulesLucas County, IA
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Unclear - verifyLucas County's own ordinance list shows no general countywide zoning ordinance, so rural land appears largely unregulated at the county level, but this is not explicitly confirmed as intentional policy. Incorporated towns like the Town of Lucas may have their own zoning rules. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyNo Lucas County rule on tiny homes, RVs, or dwelling minimums was found; the Town of Lucas has adopted its own property code (Title 15) covering building, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC for anyone inside town limits. source
Building permits & codes
Unclear - verifyLucas County has no confirmed countywide building code or permit department; the Town of Lucas administers its own building code under Title 15 for property within town limits. source
Septic & composting toilets
RestrictedSeptic systems require a permit administered by ADLM Counties Environmental Public Health (serving Lucas, Appanoose, Davis, and Monroe counties) under Iowa DNR Chapter 69 private sewage rules, including pre-site evaluation and inspections. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNo Lucas County, ADLM, or Iowa DNR page specifically addresses greywater apart from general septic rules, so this is not confirmed; ask ADLM directly.
Rainwater harvesting
Unclear - verifyNo Lucas County or Iowa DNR source addressing rainwater catchment was found, so this is not confirmed either way.
Private wells & water rights
RestrictedLucas County has its own Water Well Construction Permits Ordinance (No. 14), and drilling a well requires both a state permit and a county permit, administered through ADLM.
Living disconnected from utilities
Varies locallyNo county ordinance bans off-grid utility disconnection outright, but well and septic permitting still apply, and towns like Lucas may have additional code requirements within their limits. source
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 4.9 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 3.3 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,408 kWh
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Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 38 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 23 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 6,696 (cold)
- Frost-free season
- May 3 to Sep 30
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Lucas County Health Center - 8.3 mi
- Fire station
Woodburn VFD - 7.2 mi
- Hardware store
True Value - 8.0 mi
- Grocery
Hy-Vee - 7.3 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 50151).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Lucas County, IA?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.