Off-grid site report
Manitowoc County, WI
43.9122, -88.0328 · 909 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Manitowoc 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 rulesManitowoc County, WI
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Varies locallyManitowoc County's General Zoning Ordinance (adopted 2011) applies only in the 16 towns that opted in; the Cities of Manitowoc and Two Rivers and any non-participating towns run their own separate zoning. A zoning/setback permit is required before building in county-zoned towns. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Generally allowedDwellings must meet the state's Uniform Dwelling Code (SPS 320-325) and camping-unit code (SPS 327), adopted by reference in local ordinance; no county-specific tiny-home carve-out was found, so confirm treatment of tiny homes/RVs with the local building department. source
Building permits & codes
Generally allowedLocal building departments (city, or county Planning & Zoning for towns under county zoning) issue permits under the state UDC, Commercial Building Code, Plumbing Code, and National Electrical Code plus local ordinance. source
Septic & composting toilets
RestrictedManitowoc County's Planning & Zoning Department enforces Chapter 13 of the county code plus state SPS 383, requires POWTS inspections every 3 years (stricter than bare state minimum), master-plumber sign-off on applications, and prohibits reconnecting to undersized systems. source
Greywater reuse
RestrictedNo county-specific greywater ordinance was found; it likely falls under the general POWTS/state sewage framework, so ask the county Sanitary Program before installing a system. source
Rainwater harvesting
Unclear - verifyNo Manitowoc County ordinance on rainwater harvesting was found in official sources; treat this as unconfirmed and check with county Planning & Zoning.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedWell construction runs through DNR-licensed drillers under state code NR 812 rather than a county permit; the county Health Department actively recommends annual coliform and nitrate testing. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo county ordinance directly permits or restricts a legal dwelling being fully disconnected from electric, gas, or municipal water/sewer; building and septic permitting still apply regardless of grid status.
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
- 1,344 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 31 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 41 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 7,649 (severe)
- Frost-free season
- May 3 to Oct 7
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Ascension Calumet Hospital - 9.8 mi
- Fire station
Elkhart Lake Fire Station - 6.0 mi
- Hardware store
Ace Hardware - 0.8 mi
- Grocery
Piggly Wiggly - 0.8 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 53042).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Manitowoc 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.