Off-grid site report

Charles Mix County, SD

43.3786, -98.8427 · 1,631 ft elevation
Read this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Charles Mix County, SD, 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 rulesCharles Mix County, SD

Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Unclear - verifyCharles Mix County's official ordinance list shows only building permit, drainage, cannabis, burn-ban, and weight-limit ordinances, no countywide zoning ordinance. Under South Dakota state law a county without a countywide comprehensive plan/zoning ordinance leaves most unincorporated land unregulated by zoning, but I couldn't confirm this is actually the case here, so call the County Auditor/Commission to verify current zoning status before assuming raw land is unrestricted. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyI found no Charles Mix County page addressing tiny homes, RV living, or minimum dwelling size standards. If the county truly has no zoning ordinance, there may be no county-level restriction, but this isn't confirmed, and if you're inside a town like Wagner, Platte, or Lake Andes, that municipality's own code would apply instead.
Building permits & codes
RestrictedCharles Mix County does require building permits countywide, administered through the Director of Equalization's office, per the county's Building Permit Ordinance (2015) and 2022 permit procedures. This applies regardless of the zoning question, so plan on pulling a permit for construction. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedSouth Dakota regulates septic systems statewide through DANR and a certified-installer program under the state's on-site wastewater rules, and additional local permits may be required through the county. Charles Mix County doesn't appear to have its own published septic page, so confirm the local sign-off process with the county directly; composting toilets specifically aren't addressed anywhere I found. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNo Charles Mix County or South Dakota state rule on residential greywater reuse turned up in my research. This is one to ask the county's building/permitting office about directly, since it seems to be handled case-by-case if at all.
Rainwater harvesting
Unclear - verifyI didn't find any county or state statute specifically governing rainwater harvesting for Charles Mix County. Domestic water use is generally exempt from South Dakota's water-rights permitting, but there's no county-specific rule confirmed either way.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedPrivate wells fall under South Dakota's statewide DANR Water Rights Program and well construction standards, and I found no Charles Mix County-specific overlay or additional local well ordinance. Treat the state framework as the governing rule here.
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyCharles Mix County's public ordinance list has nothing addressing off-grid or utility-disconnected living, so nothing bars it at the county level as far as I found. Statewide, off-grid living itself isn't prohibited, but electrical work remains licensed under the SD Electrical Commission even though an owner's exemption is typically available for your own residence. source

Open the full county page with sources →

Sun30-year normals

Peak-sun hours, annual average
5.1 hrs/day
Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
3.0 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
1,465 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND

Weather1991-2020

Precipitation
24 in/yr
Snowfall
45 in/yr
Heating degree days
7,378 (cold)
Frost-free season
May 3 to Sep 30

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital
Platte Health Center Avera
0.5 mi
Fire station
none within range
Hardware store
True Value
0.5 mi
Grocery
County Fair Food Store
0.4 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 57369).

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

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.