Off-grid site report
Menominee County, WI
44.9763, -88.7347 · 1,027 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Menominee 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 rulesMenominee County, WI
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
RestrictedMenominee County has a comprehensive countywide Zoning Ordinance limiting lots generally to one principal building and requiring wells/septic/utilities to be on the same lot they serve; pre-existing legal lots are grandfathered as buildable. Confirm your parcel's status with the county. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
RestrictedNew dwellings require a state Uniform Dwelling Code application plus a county zoning permit; no tiny-home or RV-as-dwelling specific rule was found on the county site, so that remains unconfirmed. source
Building permits & codes
Generally allowedBuilding permits require both a Wisconsin Uniform Dwelling Code seal/state plan approval and a separate county zoning permit, per the county's own building permit guidance; only interior remodels without footprint change or standalone trade permits are exempt from the zoning permit. source
Septic & composting toilets
RestrictedThe county administers the state POWTS code and adds its own ordinance requiring periodic inspection of all private onsite wastewater systems, with enforcement follow-up described in the county's FAQ. source
Greywater reuse
RestrictedGreywater is governed by state plumbing and POWTS codes; no Menominee County-specific greywater ordinance or page was found, so ask the county Building & Zoning office to confirm local practice.
Rainwater harvesting
Varies locallyNo county-specific rainwater ordinance was found; the county appears to defer to the state framework where outdoor non-potable collection is generally unregulated and indoor/potable use falls under state plumbing code.
Private wells & water rights
RestrictedWisconsin allows counties to administer private well permitting under state rule NR 845, but no Menominee County-specific well permitting page or ordinance was found to confirm whether the county has taken on that role versus deferring to the DNR. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo county ordinance explicitly addresses full utility disconnection; the zoning ordinance's requirement that wells and septic be located on the same lot implies on-site self-sufficiency is anticipated, but this is not a confirmed off-grid allowance. source
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 4.6 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 2.9 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,351 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 31 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 47 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 8,177 (severe)
- Frost-free season
- May 12 to Sep 29
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
ThedaCare Medical Center-Shawano - 16.2 mi
- Fire station
Neopit Fire Department & Municipal Building - 4.6 mi
- Hardware store
Menards - 23.3 mi
- Grocery
Save-A-Lot - 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 54150).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Menominee 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.