Off-grid site report
Crawford County, WI
43.0167, -91.1319 · 643 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Crawford 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 rulesCrawford County, WI
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Varies locallyCrawford County has no comprehensive countywide zoning ordinance, only Floodplain and Shoreland-Wetland zoning. General land-use rules depend on the individual town, some are zoned and some aren't, so I'd contact both the county LCPZ office and your specific town before assuming anything about raw land use. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyThere's no Crawford County ordinance I found that speaks specifically to tiny homes or long-term RV living. The state's Uniform Dwelling Code is the baseline, but towns under 2,500 people can choose whether to enforce it themselves or let the state handle it, so this really comes down to your town. source
Building permits & codes
Varies locallyBuilding permits in Crawford County are issued at the town level, not by the county, since there's no countywide zoning. You'll need a site permit from your town along with a driveway permit and fire number, so start with your town clerk or building inspector. source
Septic & composting toilets
RestrictedCrawford County does regulate this directly through its POWTS ordinance (Chapter 15), which applies to all unsewered property. Any home with plumbing needs a permitted septic system, and systems must be evaluated by a licensed pumper at least every three years, with a separate non-plumbing sanitary permit process for privies or composting toilets. source
Greywater reuse
RestrictedI didn't find a Crawford County-specific greywater ordinance. It appears to fall under the county's POWTS ordinance and the state plumbing code (SPS 383), so any greywater system likely needs sign-off through the same Sanitation office that handles septic permits. source
Rainwater harvesting
Unclear - verifyI found nothing in Crawford County's planning, zoning, or sanitation materials addressing rainwater collection specifically, so this looks like it defaults to the state's general approach. Worth confirming directly with the county LCPZ office if you're planning anything beyond simple outdoor catchment.
Private wells & water rights
Unclear - verifyNo county-specific well ordinance turned up on the Crawford County LCPZ site. Private wells appear to be governed solely by the Wisconsin DNR's statewide Well and Pump Code (NR 812), with no separate county permitting layer identified.
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyI couldn't find any Crawford County rule that directly addresses living fully off the grid, disconnected from electric or municipal utilities. The county's habitation language focuses on sanitary compliance rather than utility hookups, so this is genuinely unsettled and worth a direct call to the county LCPZ office or your town.
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 4.7 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 2.7 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,360 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 35 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 33 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 7,144 (cold)
- Frost-free season
- Apr 30 to Oct 5
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Crossing Rivers Medical Center - 1.0 mi
- Fire station
McGregor Fire Department Hook and Ladder Company 1 - 2.4 mi
- Hardware store
True Value - 2.6 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 53821).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Crawford 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.