Off-grid site report
Richland County, WI
43.3364, -90.3407 · 1,099 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Richland 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 rulesRichland County, WI
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
RestrictedRichland County has adopted comprehensive countywide zoning under Wis. Stat. § 59.69 (Ordinance No. 5), administered by the Richland County Zoning & Sanitation Department, including floodplain, shoreland, and wetland zoning in all townships. Rezoning raw land is possible but the county says it can require a survey and take significant time. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyUDC building permits are required for new one- and two-family dwellings, administered by township UDC inspectors, but no Richland-specific rule on RV or tiny-home occupancy duration was found; confirm directly with the county or your township inspector. source
Building permits & codes
Generally allowedBuilding permits are required and administered township-by-township under the statewide Uniform Dwelling Code; the City of Richland Center has its own separate municipal zoning/building permit requirement. source
Septic & composting toilets
RestrictedThe county's Zoning & Sanitation Department administers sanitary permits, enforces the state's mandatory 3-year septic pump-out/check rule (SPS 383.54), and sets its own detailed standards for vault privies, pit privies, and composting toilets (portable toilets are not approved). source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNo Richland County ordinance specifically addressing greywater reuse was found; it likely defaults to the statewide DSPS plumbing code baseline, but this is not confirmed locally.
Rainwater harvesting
Unclear - verifyNo Richland County page addressing rainwater catchment was found; non-potable outdoor collection is understood to be unregulated statewide with no local variance identified, but this is not confirmed.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedNo distinct Richland County well ordinance was found beyond the statewide DNR NR 812 Well and Pump Code; Richland County Health & Human Services is the local health authority of record. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo Richland County ordinance was found that directly authorizes or prohibits full utility disconnection for an occupied dwelling; permitting for building and septic functions as the practical gatekeeper instead.
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
- 1,344 kWh
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Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 37 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 39 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 7,568 (severe)
- Frost-free season
- May 6 to Sep 30
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Richland Hospital - 2.1 mi
- Fire station
Richland Center Fire Department - 2.2 mi
- Hardware store
All American Doit Center' - 1.7 mi
- Grocery
Walmart Supercenter - 1.7 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 53584).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Richland 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.