Off-grid site report
Monroe County, WI
44.0970, -90.4942 · 1,020 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Monroe 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 rulesMonroe County, WI
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Varies locallyMonroe County has no countywide zoning, it's town-by-town opt-in. Some towns (like Adrian, La Grange, Leon, Little Falls, New Lyme, Oakdale, Ridgeville, Sparta, Tomah, Wells, and Wilton) have shoreland/floodplain concerns and are told to check with the county Zoning Department first, while unzoned towns may fall outside county zoning entirely. If your parcel is in a city or village, that municipality (not the county) handles zoning. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyI couldn't find Monroe County-specific rules on tiny homes or RVs as permanent dwellings. The state's Uniform Dwelling Code (SPS 320-325) sets baseline standards for one- and two-family homes statewide, but how the county treats tiny homes or RV occupancy isn't confirmed, so ask the Monroe County Zoning Department directly. source
Building permits & codes
Generally allowedBuilding is permitted under Wisconsin's statewide Uniform Dwelling Code, enforced locally. In unincorporated Monroe County, the county Zoning Department handles permits, while incorporated cities and villages like Sparta or Tomah run their own permitting. source
Septic & composting toilets
RestrictedWisconsin's POWTS code (SPS 383) requires a sanitary permit before installing or altering a private sewage system, and only a licensed plumber can design and apply for that permit, homeowners generally can't self-install. Monroe County's exact septic ordinance chapter and process weren't confirmed, so check with the Monroe County Health Department. source
Greywater reuse
RestrictedNo Monroe County-specific greywater ordinance turned up, so this appears to fall under the statewide DSPS plumbing/POWTS code, which restricts greywater reuse to permitted subsurface irrigation installed by a licensed professional. Not confirmed at the county level, so verify with the Health Department.
Rainwater harvesting
Varies locallyNo Monroe County ordinance on rainwater harvesting was found. Outdoor, non-potable collection appears to follow the unregulated state baseline, while indoor or potable use would fall under DSPS plumbing code rules.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedPrivate wells are permitted under Wisconsin's DNR Well and Pump Code (NR 812) statewide, generally requiring a well location permit and a well construction permit, typically handled by a licensed well professional. Monroe County's specific permitting office wasn't confirmed, so ask the county Health or Zoning office who administers this locally.
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyI found no Wisconsin statute, state code, or Monroe County ordinance directly addressing full disconnection from electric, gas, or municipal utilities for a legal dwelling. This is unconfirmed, so it's worth asking the Monroe County Zoning Department directly.
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 4.7 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 2.6 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,366 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 34 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 47 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 8,180 (severe)
- Frost-free season
- May 10 to Sep 29
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Tomah Health - 9.6 mi
- Fire station
Oakdale Area Fire - LaGrange Station - 6.4 mi
- Hardware store
All-American Do It Center - 6.5 mi
- Grocery
Walmart Supercenter - 5.3 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 54666).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Monroe 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.