Off-grid site report
Grundy County, IA
42.3617, -92.7685 · 1,030 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Grundy County, IA, 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 rulesGrundy County, IA
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Varies locallyGrundy County Zoning Office administers zoning for unincorporated areas under the county Development Ordinance; incorporated cities like Grundy Center have their own separate zoning codes that control instead. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyNo official Grundy County ordinance on tiny homes was found; manufactured homes follow the state building code bureau's inspection and occupancy-approval requirements, which counties can't override. source
Building permits & codes
Generally allowedThe Grundy County Zoning office issues building permits for unincorporated land via online application; within city limits, the city's own Clerk/ordinance controls permitting instead. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedGrundy County Environmental Health issues septic permits (soil testing, site analysis) under state DNR Chapter 69 rules; composting toilets fall under this same state framework with no separate county rule found. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNo Grundy County ordinance on greywater reuse was found; this falls back to general state DNR wastewater rules with no local specifics, so ask the county Sanitarian directly.
Rainwater harvesting
Unclear - verifyNo Grundy County or Iowa DNR page addressing residential rainwater catchment was found; status is not confirmed either way.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedGrundy County Environmental Health issues private well construction permits under state DNR delegation (IAC Ch. 49) and requires a DNR Certified Well Driller; a well rehab grant program is also available through the county Sanitarian. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Varies locallyNo explicit county ban on utility-disconnected living was found, but occupancy still requires the standard septic, well, and building permits described above. source
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 4.7 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 2.7 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,383 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 35 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 34 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 7,295 (cold)
- Frost-free season
- Apr 28 to Oct 5
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Grundy County Memorial Hospital - 0.4 mi
- Fire station
Grundy Center Fire Department - 0.1 mi
- Hardware store
Menards - 19.2 mi
- Grocery
Brother's Market - 14.4 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 50638).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Grundy County, IA?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.