Off-grid site report

Scott County, MN

44.7930, -93.5372 · 807 ft elevation

Read this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Scott County, MN, 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 rulesScott County, MN

Zoning & raw-land occupancy

Varies locallyScott County Planning & Zoning Department enforces Zoning Ordinance No. 3 in the county's eleven unincorporated townships only; cities inside the county set their own zoning independently. Uses not specifically permitted are considered prohibited under the ordinance. source

Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs

Unclear - verifyNo official Scott County page specifies tiny-house size minimums or whether an RV can serve as a permanent dwelling; confirm directly with Scott County Planning & Zoning. source

Building permits & codes

RestrictedScott County Ordinance No. 10 adopts the Minnesota State Building Code for the townships, enforced by a county-designated Certified Building Official under state rule; separate permits are needed for plumbing, mechanical, sewer, and electrical work. source

Septic & composting toilets

Generally allowedSeptic systems are permitted under Scott County Ordinance No. 4, which implements state MPCA SSTS rules; failing systems have state-set repair timelines that vary based on health risk and groundwater susceptibility. source

Greywater reuse

Unclear - verifyNo standalone Scott County greywater ordinance was found; greywater appears to fall under the same SSTS ordinance and state MN Rules 7080/7081 administered by Environmental Health. source

Rainwater harvesting

Unclear - verifyNo Scott County-specific rainwater ordinance was found; outdoor collection isn't addressed locally, while indoor plumbed catchment would fall under the state building code via the county's plumbing permit process.

Private wells & water rights

Generally allowedPrivate wells are permitted and must follow Minnesota Department of Health well code; Scott County Environmental Services offers water testing kits, and unused wells must be sealed by a licensed contractor or annually permitted as unused per state law. source

Living disconnected from utilities

Unclear - verifyNo official Scott County ordinance was found requiring grid hookup or explicitly permitting full off-grid disconnection; electrical self-sufficiency isn't separately addressed in the sources found.

Open the full county page with sources →

Sun30-year normals

Peak-sun hours, annual average: 4.7 hrs/day
Worst month (sizes an off-grid array): 2.8 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels: 1,374 kWh

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Weather1991-2020

Precipitation: 32 in/yr
Snowfall: 46 in/yr
Heating degree days: 7,376 (cold)
Frost-free season: Apr 28 to Oct 5

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital M Health West Bank Emergency Department: 19.0 mi
Fire station Chaska Fire Station: 3.5 mi
Hardware store Jerry's Hardware & Rental: 7.3 mi
Grocery Hy-Vee: 1.0 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 55379).

Size a solar system Heat loss & insulation Firewood per winter Rainwater harvest Garden size Panel tilt

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.