Off-grid site report

McLeod County, MN

44.8712, -94.3834 · 1,070 ft elevation
Read this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for McLeod 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 rulesMcLeod County, MN

Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Varies locallyMcLeod County's zoning ordinance requires permits for buildings, structures, land uses, and sets minimum lot sizes and setbacks in unincorporated areas, per county Environmental Services. Cities like Hutchinson and organized townships may have separate zoning authority, so confirm which jurisdiction covers your parcel. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyNo official county page specifically addresses tiny homes or long-term RV occupancy as dwellings; the county's process suggests these are handled case-by-case through the zoning office. Confirm building eligibility directly with McLeod County Environmental Services. source
Building permits & codes
RestrictedMcLeod County requires permits for buildings and structures in unincorporated areas. Whether the county has locally adopted the Minnesota State Building Code (mandatory by default only in the Twin Cities metro) was not confirmed, so ask Environmental Services. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedMcLeod County has enforced its own SSTS ordinance since 2010, incorporating Minnesota Rules Chapters 7080-7083, which allow composting and incinerating toilets. Homeowners can self-install non-pressurized systems if the designer attends final inspection, and system abandonment follows state rules filed through the county. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNo standalone McLeod County greywater ordinance was found; it's likely folded into the county's SSTS ordinance, which incorporates state Chapters 7080-7083. Confirm directly with Environmental Services.
Rainwater harvesting
Unclear - verifyNo McLeod County-specific rainwater harvesting rule was found. The state baseline treats plumbed indoor catchment as regulated by the Department of Labor and Industry plumbing code, while outdoor rain barrels are unregulated.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedPrivate wells for personal or agricultural use are allowed under Minnesota Statutes chapter 103I and Minnesota Rules chapter 4725, administered by the state, not the county. McLeod County's public health department does not test or regulate private well water quality itself. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo official McLeod County page addresses a requirement or prohibition on connecting to grid electricity, municipal water, or sewer in unincorporated areas. Any such rule would come from the applicable city or township, not the county, so confirm locally.

Open the full county page with sources →

Sun30-year normals

Peak-sun hours, annual average
4.7 hrs/day
Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
2.9 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
1,372 kWh
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Weather1991-2020

Precipitation
28 in/yr
Snowfall
44 in/yr
Heating degree days
8,165 (severe)
Frost-free season
May 2 to Oct 2

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital
Hutchinson Health
0.6 mi
Fire station
Hutchinson Fire Station
1.5 mi
Hardware store
Harbor Freight Tools
0.3 mi
Grocery
Walmart Supercenter
0.2 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 55350).

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.