Off-grid site report

Clinton County, MI

42.9776, -84.5404 · 745 ft elevation
Read this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Clinton 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 rulesClinton County, MI

Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Varies locallyThe Clinton County Planning & Zoning Department administers zoning for 10 General Law Townships, but DeWitt, Bath, Watertown, Eagle, Dallas, Bengal Townships and the Cities of DeWitt/St. Johns run their own zoning independently. Confirm which authority covers your parcel before assuming any rule applies. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyNo county-specific tiny home or RV-as-dwelling rule was found; occupancy requires final septic and water approvals plus standard building/electrical/mechanical/plumbing sign-off. Michigan has not adopted the Appendix Q tiny house provisions statewide, so the state residential code baseline applies. source
Building permits & codes
RestrictedThe Clinton County Building Department requires permits for building, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical work in 13 General Law Townships and their incorporated areas, applying the state-adopted Michigan Building Codes. Other jurisdictions in the county handle their own building permitting separately. source
Septic & composting toilets
RestrictedThe Mid-Michigan District Health Department (covering Clinton, Gratiot, and Montcalm Counties) requires a permit before any septic system is constructed, altered, or extended, and alternative systems require a signed maintenance contract. Composting toilets are not explicitly addressed in the confirmed regulations, so ask MMDHD directly. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNo Clinton County or MMDHD-specific greywater ordinance was found; this likely falls back to the state plumbing/residential code baseline, but that is not confirmed locally.
Rainwater harvesting
Unclear - verifyNo county-specific restriction or allowance was located for rainwater harvesting; the state baseline under Michigan's plumbing code likely applies but is not locally confirmed.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedPrivate wells are permitted but require a permit from the Mid-Michigan District Health Department, Clinton County Branch, and this well permit must be obtained before a building permit can be issued for new construction.
Living disconnected from utilities
RestrictedThere's no outright ban on off-grid living, but Clinton County's occupancy requirements call for final septic and water approvals from the health department before a dwelling can be legally occupied, meaning an approved well and septic system are effectively required. source

Open the full county page with sources →

Sun30-year normals

Peak-sun hours, annual average
4.4 hrs/day
Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
2.2 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
1,269 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND

Weather1991-2020

Precipitation
33 in/yr
Snowfall
40 in/yr
Heating degree days
6,877 (cold)
Frost-free season
May 2 to Oct 12

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital
University of Michigan Health - Sparrow St. Lawrence
16.3 mi
Fire station
St. John's Fire Department
1.9 mi
Hardware store
Family Farm & Home
0.7 mi
Grocery
Walmart Supercenter
0.1 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 48879).

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.