Off-grid site report
Walworth County, WI
42.6035, -88.4239 · 866 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Walworth 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 rulesWalworth County, WI
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
RestrictedWalworth County's Land Use & Resource Management (LURM) Department runs a countywide zoning permit process under Chapter 74 of the county code, but the Town of Bloomfield and the ETZ areas around Elkhorn, Fontana, and Williams Bay are outside county jurisdiction, so you'd deal with the town or city directly there. More than one dwelling per lot is generally not allowed except in limited zoning districts, so check with LURM or the relevant town/city before assuming raw land can be occupied. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
RestrictedThe county code restricts storing more than one unlicensed or inoperable vehicle on a property, and there are single/two-family dwelling standards in Chapter 74, but I couldn't confirm specific rules on RVs or tiny homes as permanent residences beyond the baseline Uniform Dwelling Code that township building inspectors enforce. Ask LURM and your township building inspector directly if you're planning to live in an RV or tiny home full time. source
Building permits & codes
Generally allowedBuilding here is a two-step process: LURM issues the zoning permit, and then the appropriate Township Building Inspector issues the actual building permit and inspects for compliance with the State of Wisconsin Uniform Dwelling Code. There's also a post-construction check, either an updated survey or a foundation inspection, so plan for both county and township involvement. source
Septic & composting toilets
RestrictedIf you're not on city sewer, you need a POWTS (septic) system permitted and inspected by LURM's Sanitation Division under state code, and state law requires periodic pumping and inspection reporting to the county. Composting toilets are allowed under state code SPS 391, but any liquid waste from them still has to go to a public sewer or a conforming POWTS, so you can't skip septic infrastructure entirely. source
Greywater reuse
RestrictedI didn't find any Walworth County ordinance that loosens the state DSPS plumbing code's greywater rules, so the state baseline is what applies here. Confirm specifics with LURM's Sanitation Division before setting up a greywater system.
Rainwater harvesting
Varies locallyNo county-specific rainwater harvesting ordinance turned up in my research, which means the state DSPS plumbing code baseline likely governs, but this isn't confirmed at the county level. Check with LURM to be sure nothing local applies.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedPrivate wells are allowed and follow state DNR construction standards, and Walworth County's Health and Human Services Division even offers a well water testing lab for residents. Testing isn't mandatory, just recommended, so you have real independence here without a heavy county mandate. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyI couldn't find a Walworth County ordinance that specifically allows or bans full disconnection from electric or municipal utilities for an occupied dwelling. Shoreland setback rules do restrict where you can build near lakes, which matters for off-grid cabin siting, but that's a separate issue from utility disconnection, so ask LURM directly about this one.
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 4.6 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 2.8 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,332 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 36 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 42 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 6,600 (cold)
- Frost-free season
- Apr 28 to Oct 13
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Aurora Lakeland Medical Center - 5.4 mi
- Fire station
Burlington Fire Department - 8.9 mi
- Hardware store
The Home Depot - 0.7 mi
- Grocery
Piggly Wiggly - 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 53147).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Walworth 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.