Off-grid site report

Lyon County, MN

44.6088, -95.6742 · 1,083 ft elevation

Read this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Lyon 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 rulesLyon County, MN

Zoning & raw-land occupancy

Varies locallyLyon County Planning and Zoning administers countywide zoning and a Shoreland Management overlay under authority from Minn. Stat. ch. 394, but some townships within the county may have their own land-use rules that override county zoning. source

Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs

Unclear - verifyNo official Lyon County page explicitly addresses tiny homes or RVs as permanent dwellings; this would be determined by the county's zoning ordinance text, so contact the P&Z Administrator directly.

Building permits & codes

Generally allowedLyon County has adopted the Minnesota State Building Code and runs its own permitting program through Planning and Zoning, with inspections following the statewide procedure in Minn. Rules 1300.0210. source

Septic & composting toilets

Generally allowedLyon County administers its own SSTS ordinance under Minnesota Rules Chapters 7080 to 7083, a state mandate for all counties, and requires inspections for new septic systems. source

Greywater reuse

Unclear - verifyNo standalone Lyon County greywater rule was found; it likely falls under the county's SSTS ordinance, but this is not confirmed, so ask Planning and Zoning directly.

Rainwater harvesting

Unclear - verifyNo Lyon County ordinance on rainwater harvesting was found; outdoor rain barrels are unregulated statewide, and plumbed indoor catchment systems would fall under state plumbing plan review by default.

Private wells & water rights

Generally allowedWells are governed statewide by Minnesota Statutes ch. 103I and Minnesota Rules ch. 4725 through the Department of Health; Lyon County does not run its own delegated well program, though the Lyon Soil & Water Conservation District supports local water planning and monitoring. source

Living disconnected from utilities

Unclear - verifyNo Lyon County ordinance requires or bars grid disconnection; this would most likely surface through building code and occupancy approval, so it's a direct question for the Building Department.

Open the full county page with sources →

Sun30-year normals

Peak-sun hours, annual average: 4.6 hrs/day
Worst month (sizes an off-grid array): 2.7 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels: 1,351 kWh

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Weather1991-2020

Precipitation: 28 in/yr
Snowfall: 47 in/yr
Heating degree days: 8,008 (severe)
Frost-free season: May 2 to Oct 1

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital Avera Marshall Regional Medical Center: 12.2 mi
Fire station Wood Lake Fire Department: 7.3 mi
Hardware store Ace Hardware: 12.1 mi
Grocery Terry's Foods: 12.0 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 56229).

Size a solar system Heat loss & insulation Firewood per winter Rainwater harvest Garden size Panel tilt

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.