Off-grid site report
Waupaca County, WI
44.3580, -89.0859 · 853 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Waupaca 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 rulesWaupaca County, WI
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
RestrictedThe County's Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance covers most of the county via the Planning & Zoning Office, but the Towns of Dupont, Fremont, and Harrison self-administer zoning outside shoreland areas. A fire number/address from the Land Information Office is required before any permit can be issued. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
RestrictedWaupaca County requires a minimum dwelling width of 22 feet; narrower structures, including many tiny homes, need a conditional use permit with a public hearing. RV-specific occupancy rules were not confirmed. source
Building permits & codes
Generally allowedBuilding permits are issued locally by each Town, City, or Village (some via contracted General Engineering), on top of a county Land Use Permit and the county's own Chapter 53 building ordinance incorporating the state Uniform Dwelling Code. source
Septic & composting toilets
RestrictedThe county Planning & Zoning Office issues all sanitary permits and enforces a state-mandated (DSPS SPS 383) POWTS maintenance program requiring periodic tank inspection and pumping. Composting toilets are not separately addressed in county sources found. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNo Waupaca County ordinance specific to greywater reuse was found; the statewide DSPS plumbing code likely serves as the default, but this is not confirmed for the county, so ask Planning & Zoning.
Rainwater harvesting
Unclear - verifyNo county ordinance addressing rainwater harvesting was found; the state's general allowance for non-potable outdoor use likely applies by default, but this is not confirmed locally.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedWells are regulated by the Wisconsin DNR, and the county's well page functions mainly as a referral to DNR resources. Note the City of Waupaca has its own municipal-water-area private well ordinance requiring periodic sampling and inspection. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo county ordinance explicitly requires connection to grid electric or municipal utilities, but no explicit off-grid allowance was found either; indirect constraints like the dwelling width minimum and sanitary permit requirement still apply.
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
- 1,354 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 33 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 44 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 7,895 (severe)
- Frost-free season
- May 8 to Oct 2
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
ThedaCare Medical Center-Waupaca - 1.0 mi
- Fire station
Iola Fire and Ambulance Department - 10.5 mi
- Hardware store
W.J. Doran Co. - 0.2 mi
- Grocery
Piggly Wiggly - 0.7 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 54981).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Waupaca 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.