Off-grid site report
Columbia County, WI
43.5395, -89.4613 · 801 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Columbia 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 rulesColumbia County, WI
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Varies locallyColumbia County Planning & Zoning administers countywide zoning under Title 16 of the county code, but towns and shoreland-wetland or agricultural overlays can add extra rules, so confirm at both levels for your parcel. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Varies locallyNo county-specific tiny home rule was found; RV/tiny-home and temporary dwelling occupancy is governed by a state model ordinance that individual towns can adopt, so it varies town to town. Confirm with the town clerk and county Planning & Zoning. source
Building permits & codes
Generally allowedWisconsin's Uniform Dwelling Code applies statewide; Columbia County requires zoning and floodplain verification, plus Register of Deeds recording, before a building permit process can start, with towns often issuing the actual permit. source
Septic & composting toilets
RestrictedSeptic systems fall under the state POWTS code (SPS 383), with Columbia County requiring a certified soil tester's evaluation and a licensed Master Plumber or Designer's plans before issuing a sanitary permit; composting toilets are handled through the same office. source
Greywater reuse
RestrictedNo Columbia County ordinance was found that loosens the state DSPS plumbing code's greywater/subsurface irrigation permit requirements, so the state baseline applies. Not confirmed at the county level beyond that.
Rainwater harvesting
Varies locallyNo county ordinance addressing outdoor rainwater collection was found; the state baseline generally leaves outdoor non-potable collection unregulated while indoor/potable use falls under the state plumbing code.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedColumbia County has state Level 1 delegation to issue private well permits and conduct inspections; owners are responsible for maintenance and testing, and the county Extension office provides free test kits. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo Columbia County ordinance directly addresses disconnecting a legal dwelling from electric or gas service; this is not confirmed, so ask County Planning & Zoning and your town's building inspector directly.
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 4.6 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 2.8 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,341 kWh
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Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 36 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 38 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 7,345 (cold)
- Frost-free season
- Apr 29 to Oct 3
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Aspirus Divine Savior Hospital - 1.8 mi
- Fire station
Briggsville Fire Department - 10.1 mi
- Hardware store
Direct Tools - 16.4 mi
- Grocery
La Latina Grocery & Bakery - 1.8 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 53901).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Columbia 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.