Off-grid site report
Wood County, WI
44.3937, -89.8030 · 1,040 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Wood 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 rulesWood County, WI
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Varies locallyWood County's own zoning ordinance (#700) mainly covers shoreland, shoreland-wetland, and floodplain areas countywide. For general land use, 12 of 22 towns have adopted their own zoning ordinances and handle enforcement themselves, so raw-land occupancy rules depend on your specific town. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyNo Wood County-specific rule on tiny homes or RVs was found; the state's Uniform Building Permit rule (SPS 320.08) requires a permit from the enforcing municipality, and in Wood County that's typically the town's building inspector, not the county. source
Building permits & codes
Generally allowedBuilding permits are required for construction, but administration is local: towns like Grand Rapids run their own building inspection programs rather than the county doing it directly. source
Septic & composting toilets
RestrictedWood County Planning & Zoning administers septic permitting and inspection under county ordinance #702 and the state plumbing code, including maintenance checks on older unpermitted systems. source
Greywater reuse
RestrictedNo distinct Wood County greywater ordinance was found; the state DSPS plumbing code referenced in the county's sanitary program appears to be the governing framework, not confirmed further at county level.
Rainwater harvesting
Unclear - verifyNo Wood County ordinance on rainwater harvesting was found; outdoor non-potable collection is likely unregulated by default under the state baseline, but this is not confirmed for Wood County specifically.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedWood County administers private well location permitting under its own ordinance (#708) and a state-delegated authority (NR 812), through a county Water Systems Administrator. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo Wood County or state source directly addresses full disconnection of a legal dwelling from electric or municipal utilities; ask Planning & Zoning directly if this matters for your plans.
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
- 1,339 kWh
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Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 32 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 43 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 7,757 (severe)
- Frost-free season
- May 5 to Sep 30
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Aspirus Riverview Hospital - 1.5 mi
- Fire station
Wisconsin Rapids Fire Department - 1.1 mi
- Hardware store
The Home Depot - 1.1 mi
- Grocery
IGA - 0.1 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 54494).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Wood 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.