Off-grid site report

Presque Isle County, MI

45.4106, -83.8240 · 650 ft elevation
Read this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Presque Isle 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 rulesPresque Isle County, MI

Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Varies locallyPresque Isle County administers a countywide Zoning Ordinance, but Allis, Krakow, and Presque Isle Townships, the Villages of Millersburg and Posen, and the Cities of Onaway and Rogers City retain their own local zoning authority; the Village of Millersburg currently has no zoning ordinance at all. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
RestrictedThe county Zoning Ordinance defines 'building' broadly enough to include tents, awnings, and vehicles used for shelter, so RVs and mobile dwellings fall under zoning rules; no local tiny-home (Appendix Q) exemption was found, so the state baseline applies. source
Building permits & codes
RestrictedThe County Building & Zoning Department enforces the state's Construction, Residential, and Building Codes plus the county zoning ordinance, and requires permits before any new construction, including manufactured structures; soil erosion permits are required for qualifying earth-change work under state law. source
Septic & composting toilets
RestrictedDistrict Health Department No. 4 (DHD4), not the county, regulates septic under its Sanitary Code; owner-installed systems are allowed with a DHD4 permit, and septic approval must happen before a county building permit is issued. Composting toilets are not addressed in available sources, so that's not confirmed, ask DHD4 directly.
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNo Presque Isle County or DHD4 page specifically addresses greywater reuse; state plumbing/residential code standards apply by default. Confirm specifics with DHD4 or the County Building & Zoning Department.
Rainwater harvesting
Unclear - verifyNo county or DHD4-specific rule on rainwater harvesting was found; Michigan's state plumbing code baseline applies. Confirm with the County Building & Zoning Department if you have a specific system in mind.
Private wells & water rights
RestrictedDHD4 handles well permitting under the state Water Well Construction Code, and a well final is required before the county will issue a certificate of occupancy; some townships now require additional well inspections at property transfer.
Living disconnected from utilities
RestrictedFull off-grid utility disconnection isn't directly addressed, but a certificate of occupancy requires an approved well and septic (or DHD4-approved equivalent) system, so private water/waste infrastructure must be permitted even without public utility hookups. source

Open the full county page with sources →

Sun30-year normals

Peak-sun hours, annual average
4.5 hrs/day
Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
2.0 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
1,329 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND

Weather1991-2020

Precipitation
30 in/yr
Snowfall
80 in/yr
Heating degree days
7,848 (severe)
Frost-free season
May 15 to Oct 9

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital
MyMichigan Medical Center Alpena
29.4 mi
Fire station
Rogers City Area Fire Department Authority
0.4 mi
Hardware store
Rogers City Ace Hardware
0.4 mi
Grocery
Family Fare
0.2 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 49779).

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

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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.