Off-grid site report

Montmorency County, MI

45.1377, -84.1247 · 958 ft elevation
Read this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Montmorency County, MI, 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 rulesMontmorency County, MI

Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Varies locallyMontmorency County has no countywide zoning ordinance; each township (Montmorency Township, Avery Township, etc.) adopts its own, so raw-land use rules depend on which township the parcel is in. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Varies locallyNo county-level dwelling standard exists; township zoning ordinances govern RVs, tiny homes, and occupancy, layered on the state's Residential Code (no Appendix Q adopted). source
Building permits & codes
RestrictedThe Montmorency County Building Department in Atlanta issues permits and requires a certificate of occupancy before use, per the county's adopted building code; a Soil Erosion Permit is a prerequisite in qualifying situations. source
Septic & composting toilets
RestrictedDistrict Health Department No. 4 administers the Sanitary Code for Montmorency and three neighboring counties; a permit is required to install a sewage system, and self-installation of standard (non-alternative) systems is allowed with a permit. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNo Montmorency- or DHD4-specific greywater rule was found; this likely defaults to the state Plumbing/Residential Code, so confirm directly with DHD4's environmental health division.
Rainwater harvesting
Unclear - verifyNo county or DHD4-specific rainwater ordinance was found; state plumbing code provisions likely apply by default, but this isn't locally confirmed.
Private wells & water rights
Unclear - verifyDHD4 provides environmental health services for the county, which typically includes well permitting under the state Water Well Construction Code, but no Montmorency-specific well page was found to confirm details.
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo explicit ban on disconnecting from utilities was found, but the county's certificate-of-occupancy requirement and DHD4's sewage registration mean a compliant water and septic setup is practically required to legally occupy a dwelling. source

Open the full county page with sources →

Sun30-year normals

Peak-sun hours, annual average
4.3 hrs/day
Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
2.2 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
1,228 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND

Weather1991-2020

Precipitation
31 in/yr
Heating degree days
8,470 (severe)

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital
Munson Healthcare Otsego Memorial Hospital
27.8 mi
Fire station
Hillman Fire Department
11.9 mi
Hardware store
Ace Hardware
9.3 mi
Grocery
Freddie's Family Market
9.0 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 49746).

Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt

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.