Off-grid site report

Morrison County, MN

46.2102, -94.6408 · 1,276 ft elevation

Read this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Morrison County, MN, 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 rulesMorrison County, MN

Zoning & raw-land occupancy

RestrictedMorrison County enforces countywide zoning for unincorporated areas via its Land Use Control Ordinance, administered by the Planning & Zoning division; incorporated cities and townships may have their own overriding rules. source

Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs

Varies locallyPark models are permitted as dwellings under the same rules as manufactured homes; RVs are regulated mainly for waste disposal and temporary use. Tiny homes on wheels are not explicitly addressed and likely fall under the RV/park-model framework, but that's not confirmed. source

Building permits & codes

Generally allowedThe county issues 'land use permits' in place of separate building-code permits for structures that occupy ground space; purely cosmetic work like reshingling or siding is exempt. Starting work before permit approval is done at the owner's risk per the county's own FAQ. source

Septic & composting toilets

Generally allowedMorrison County administers septic systems under state MN Rules 7080-7083 (SSTS program) through its own ordinance section, requiring state-licensed installers/designers/inspectors and time-limited compliance certificates. source

Greywater reuse

Unclear - verifyNo standalone county greywater ordinance was found; it would likely fall under the SSTS wastewater program if regulated at all. Confirm directly with the Septic Systems program. source

Rainwater harvesting

Unclear - verifyNo Morrison County-specific rainwater harvesting rule was found; this likely defaults to the state baseline where outdoor barrels are unregulated and indoor plumbed systems fall under state plumbing code review, but that's not confirmed locally.

Private wells & water rights

Generally allowedMorrison County has no delegated well-permitting authority, so the Minnesota Department of Health directly administers wells here under state statute and rule, with licensed contractors required except for certain owner-built exceptions. source

Living disconnected from utilities

Unclear - verifyNo Morrison County ordinance explicitly requiring or prohibiting grid disconnection for occupancy was found; this appears to be a local variable best confirmed directly with Land Services for your specific parcel. source

Open the full county page with sources →

Sun30-year normals

Peak-sun hours, annual average: 4.6 hrs/day
Worst month (sizes an off-grid array): 2.6 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels: 1,351 kWh

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Weather1991-2020

Precipitation: 27 in/yr
Snowfall: 49 in/yr
Heating degree days: 8,181 (severe)

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital Lakewood Health System: 11.1 mi
Fire station Scandia Valley Fire Hall: 3.1 mi
Hardware store Browerville Hardware & Appliance: 13.9 mi
Grocery Steve's Country Foods: 13.8 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 56443).

Size a solar system Heat loss & insulation Firewood per winter Rainwater harvest Garden size Panel tilt

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.