Off-grid site report

Clark County, SD

44.8777, -97.7331 · 1,788 ft elevation

Read this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Clark County, SD, 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 rulesClark County, SD

Zoning & raw-land occupancy

RestrictedClark County has adopted a countywide zoning ordinance under state enabling law (SDCL Chapter 11-2), administered by county Planning & Zoning, so land use and structure placement rules apply to unincorporated land. source

Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs

Unclear - verifyNo official Clark County provision specifically addressing tiny homes or RVs as full-time dwellings was found; confirm classification directly with county Planning & Zoning.

Building permits & codes

Varies locallyClark County Planning & Zoning issues building permits and 911 addresses under the county zoning ordinance, but whether a specific building code (like a particular IBC edition) is adopted was not confirmed, since code adoption is a local option in South Dakota. source

Septic & composting toilets

Generally allowedSeptic systems are regulated statewide by South Dakota DANR under Administrative Rules 74:53:01 and 74:53:02, with certified installers required; counties may add stricter local rules, so check with Clark County Planning & Zoning for any local add-ons. source

Greywater reuse

Unclear - verifyNo state statute or Clark County ordinance on residential greywater reuse was found; this appears to be handled case by case, so ask Clark County Planning & Zoning directly.

Rainwater harvesting

Unclear - verifySouth Dakota's water rights framework exempts domestic water use from permitting, which likely covers small-scale rain catchment, but no explicit rainwater rule at the state or county level was found; confirm with DANR Water Rights. source

Private wells & water rights

Generally allowedWells and water use are governed statewide by DANR's Water Rights Program, and a permit, when required, must be approved before drilling begins; no Clark County-specific well ordinance was found beyond this state framework. source

Living disconnected from utilities

Varies locallyNo Clark County ordinance banning off-grid or utility-disconnected living was found, but standard zoning, septic, and state electrical licensing requirements still apply; confirm any occupancy-related utility standards with Planning & Zoning. source

Open the full county page with sources →

Sun30-year normals

Peak-sun hours, annual average: 4.9 hrs/day
Worst month (sizes an off-grid array): 2.9 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels: 1,437 kWh

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Weather1991-2020

Precipitation: 24 in/yr
Heating degree days: 8,535 (severe)
Frost-free season: May 5 to Oct 1

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital Prairie Lakes Hospital: 30.1 mi
Fire station: none within range
Hardware store: none within range
Grocery: none within range

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 57225).

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.