Off-grid site report

McCook County, SD

43.5433, -97.3876 · 1,444 ft elevation

Read this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for McCook 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 rulesMcCook County, SD

Zoning & raw-land occupancy

RestrictedMcCook County Planning & Zoning administers zoning under the state enabling law SDCL 11-2, covering land use, lot occupancy, and building regulation. Detailed dimensional standards aren't published online, so confirm specifics with the county office. source

Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs

Unclear - verifyNo McCook County-specific standard for tiny homes, THOWs, or RV dwelling was found. The state distinguishes modular/sectional homes from mobile homes under SDCL 32-3-1(6), but county occupancy rules for alternative dwellings aren't confirmed. source

Building permits & codes

Generally allowedMcCook County requires building permits through Planning & Zoning, which also handles 911 addressing and land use applications; whether a specific building code edition has been formally adopted is not confirmed. source

Septic & composting toilets

Generally allowedNo McCook County-specific septic ordinance was found; statewide, on-site wastewater systems are governed by Administrative Rules of South Dakota Chapter 74:53:01, and Planning & Zoning is the likely (but unconfirmed) local point of contact. source

Greywater reuse

Unclear - verifyNo McCook County or South Dakota state page addressing residential greywater reuse was found; ask the county Planning & Zoning office directly.

Rainwater harvesting

Unclear - verifyNo McCook County or state-specific rule on rainwater harvesting was found in this research; status is unconfirmed.

Private wells & water rights

Generally allowedWells fall under statewide regulation by the South Dakota DANR Water Rights Program; no McCook County-specific well permitting page was found, so the state baseline applies.

Living disconnected from utilities

Varies locallyNo McCook County ordinance banning off-grid utility disconnection was found. Electrical work is licensed statewide by the SD Electrical Commission, generally with an owner's exemption for wiring one's own residence. source

Open the full county page with sources →

Sun30-year normals

Peak-sun hours, annual average: 5.0 hrs/day
Worst month (sizes an off-grid array): 3.2 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels: 1,465 kWh

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Weather1991-2020

Precipitation: 28 in/yr
Heating degree days: 7,655 (severe)
Frost-free season: Apr 30 to Oct 2

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital Freeman Regional Health Services: 13.7 mi
Fire station Freeman Volunteer Fire Station: 13.1 mi
Hardware store Fensel's Electric and Plumbing: 12.9 mi
Grocery Donlan's Foodland: 10.8 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 57319).

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.