Off-grid site report
Oakland County, MI
42.7164, -83.2393 · 1,093 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Oakland County, MI, 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 rulesOakland County, MI
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Varies locallyOakland County has no countywide zoning authority; each of the county's ~62 cities, villages, and townships administers its own zoning ordinance under the state Zoning Enabling Act. The county only reviews/comments on border-area rezonings. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyTiny house and RV-as-dwelling rules are not addressed at the county level; they're set by each township or city's zoning and building code. Confirm with your specific municipality.
Building permits & codes
RestrictedBuilding permits are issued and inspected by local (township/city) building departments, not the county, and typically require prior well/septic approval from the county Health Division plus a driveway permit before issuance.
Septic & composting toilets
RestrictedOakland County Health Division's Environmental Health Services unit permits and inspects all septic systems under the county's own Sanitary Code (Michigan has no statewide septic code). Denials can be appealed to the county's Sanitary Code Appeal Board.
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNo Oakland County page addresses greywater reuse specifically; this likely falls under state plumbing/residential code with local enforcement, but it's not confirmed at the county level.
Rainwater harvesting
Unclear - verifyNo Oakland County page specifically regulates rainwater harvesting; it likely falls back to the state plumbing code framework, but this is not confirmed at the county level.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedOakland County's Environmental Health Services unit inspects and permits private wells, and does not routinely monitor existing wells after installation, so owners are responsible for their own water testing.
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo county or state rule bans full grid disconnection outright, but local Certificates of Occupancy are typically withheld until the county signs off on well and septic approval, which is the real binding requirement rather than electric grid connection.
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 4.5 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 2.4 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,304 kWh
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Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 36 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 34 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 6,678 (cold)
- Frost-free season
- Apr 19 to Nov 1
- Design low
- -4 °F
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Harbor Oaks Hospital - 24.7 mi
- Fire station
Station 4 - 3.6 mi
- Hardware store
Great Lakes Ace Hardware - 3.2 mi
- Grocery
Trader Joe's - 3.2 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 48359).
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.