Off-grid site report

Goodhue County, MN

44.3999, -92.6226 · 1,116 ft elevation
Read this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Goodhue 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 rulesGoodhue County, MN

Zoning & raw-land occupancy
RestrictedGoodhue County's Zoning Ordinance covers all unincorporated land, but townships also have to sign off on projects before the county will issue a permit, so you need to check with both the County Land Use Management Department and your local Township Clerk. Shoreland and floodplain areas carry extra layers of restriction. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyI couldn't find an official Goodhue County page that spells out rules for tiny homes or living in an RV full-time. Some commercial sites claim tiny homes must meet state residential code minimums, but that's not an official county source, so I'd confirm directly with the county Building Division and your Township Clerk before counting on it. source
Building permits & codes
RestrictedGoodhue County has voluntarily adopted the Minnesota State Building Code countywide, and a building permit is required before any new construction, alteration, or structural change. Township approval comes first, then county building permit, then likely Environmental Health and Public Works reviews depending on the project; electrical permits go through the state, not the county. source
Septic & composting toilets
RestrictedGoodhue County's Environmental Health Division enforces its own SSTS ordinance under the statewide Minnesota Rules Chapter 7080-7083 framework, covering design, installation, and maintenance of septic systems, plus a compliance inspection requirement triggered at time of property sale. Composting or incinerating toilets aren't addressed on any official county page I found, so treat that as unconfirmed and ask Environmental Health directly. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyI found no official Goodhue County page that separately addresses greywater reuse; it most likely falls under the same SSTS ordinance that Environmental Health administers under state rules, but this isn't explicitly confirmed, so ask the Environmental Health Division before building any greywater system. source
Rainwater harvesting
Unclear - verifyNo Goodhue County ordinance page on rain barrels or catchment systems turned up in my research. The general assumption for Minnesota is that simple outdoor rain barrels are unregulated, while any indoor plumbed rainwater system would fall under the state Department of Labor and Industry's plumbing code, but there's no county-specific confirmation here.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedGoodhue County's Environmental Health Division issues well permits on behalf of the Minnesota Department of Health, and inspects new well construction and sealing of abandoned wells as part of protecting groundwater. This is a permitted, regulated activity, not something you can just do without a permit. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyI didn't find any official Goodhue County page that requires or forbids disconnecting from grid electricity or municipal water/sewer for a habitable dwelling. Any wiring you do, on-grid or off, like solar and battery systems, still needs a state electrical permit, and normal building/occupancy permit rules apply regardless of utility hookup status; I'd confirm specifics with the County Building Division. 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)
2.7 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
1,352 kWh
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Weather1991-2020

Precipitation
34 in/yr
Snowfall
46 in/yr
Heating degree days
8,286 (severe)
Frost-free season
May 12 to Sep 24

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital
Mayo Clinic Health System - Red Wing
11.3 mi
Fire station
Goodhue Fire Department
0.2 mi
Hardware store
Prigge's Flooring Center
8.3 mi
Grocery
Walmart Supercenter
11.4 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 55027).

Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt

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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.