Off-grid site report
Decatur County, IA
40.7416, -93.8338 · 1,152 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Decatur County, IA, 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 rulesDecatur County, IA
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Varies locallyNo countywide comprehensive zoning ordinance was found on Decatur County's official ordinance page; the county's listed ordinances cover roads, hazardous materials, and similar items, not general land use. Iowa Code Chapter 335 makes county zoning optional, and incorporated towns in the county may have their own separate zoning. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyNo Decatur County-specific tiny-home, RV, or manufactured-housing ordinance was found; this likely inherits the Iowa state baseline (Iowa Code 335.30 on manufactured homes on ag land), but that's not confirmed for this county. Ask the Board of Supervisors or Auditor.
Building permits & codes
Unclear - verifyNo county building code or permit page was found among Decatur County's listed departments, suggesting the county may not have adopted a countywide building code. Confirm directly with the County Auditor or Board of Supervisors. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedSeptic systems are permitted through Decatur County's Environmental Health Office (a shared Tri-County program with Clarke and Ringgold Counties), following Iowa DNR's statewide private sewage disposal rules. Tank pumping generally needs no permit; tank replacement likely does. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNo Decatur County-specific greywater rule was found, and Iowa has no dedicated statewide greywater statute, only general DNR wastewater rules. Ask the county Environmental Health Office before installing any greywater system.
Rainwater harvesting
Unclear - verifyNo Decatur County or Iowa DNR rule specifically addressing residential rainwater catchment was found; this inherits an unclear state baseline. Not confirmed either way.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedPrivate well construction permits for wells serving fewer than 25 people or fewer than 15 connections are issued locally by Decatur County's Environmental Health Office through the state's Iowa Well Information System (IWIS). Each county sets its own application fee, so confirm directly. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Varies locallyNo Decatur County ordinance prohibiting off-grid or utility-disconnected living was found, but occupied dwellings still need to satisfy the county's septic and well permitting requirements regardless of grid connection. source
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 4.9 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 3.3 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,420 kWh
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Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 37 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 6,079 (cold)
- Frost-free season
- Apr 16 to Oct 14
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Decatur County Hospital - 4.6 mi
- Fire station
Leon Volunteer Fire Department - 4.5 mi
- Hardware store
Hardware Hank's - 4.4 mi
- Grocery
Hy Vee - 4.0 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 50067).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Decatur County, IA?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.