Off-grid site report

Gogebic County, MI

46.3524, -89.5027 · 1,522 ft elevation
Read this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Gogebic County, MI, 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 rulesGogebic County, MI

Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Varies locallyGogebic County has no countywide zoning ordinance; zoning is adopted and enforced township-by-township (e.g., Marenisco, Wakefield) under the Michigan Zoning Enabling Act. Some townships may have minimal or no zoning, so raw-land occupancy rules depend entirely on location.
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyNo county-level rule on tiny homes or RVs was found; this is set by whichever township or city has jurisdiction, layered on the state Residential Code. Confirm with the specific township zoning administrator.
Building permits & codes
RestrictedBuilding permits are issued and inspected by the local city or township, not the county, since Gogebic County does not conduct building inspections. Gogebic County separately requires a Soil Erosion Permit for construction within 500 feet of water or over one acre of disturbance. source
Septic & composting toilets
RestrictedSeptic systems are permitted and inspected by the Western Upper Peninsula Health Department under the Upper Peninsula Environmental Health Code, covering Gogebic and four neighboring counties. Composting toilets are not separately addressed, so treat them as a sewage disposal question for WUPHD. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNo Gogebic County or WUPHD-specific greywater rule was found; this likely defaults to the state plumbing code baseline, but that is not confirmed for this county. Ask WUPHD or the state plumbing authority directly.
Rainwater harvesting
Unclear - verifyNo Gogebic County or WUPHD-specific rainwater harvesting rule was found; the state plumbing code baseline is generally understood to permit it, but this is not confirmed at the county level.
Private wells & water rights
RestrictedWater wells are permitted and inspected by the Western Upper Peninsula Health Department under the regional Environmental Health Code, layered on top of the statewide EGLE well construction code. Site evaluations are done by WUPHD sanitarians before permits issue.
Living disconnected from utilities
Varies locallyThere's often no municipal water or sewer to disconnect from in unincorporated parts of Gogebic County, but occupying a permitted dwelling still requires an approved well and septic system from WUPHD before local building permits are issued. Full off-grid living is possible, but not without those approvals.

Open the full county page with sources →

Sun30-year normals

Peak-sun hours, annual average
4.4 hrs/day
Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
2.2 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
1,242 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND

Weather1991-2020

Precipitation
40 in/yr
Snowfall
180 in/yr
Heating degree days
9,511 (severe)
Frost-free season
May 29 to Sep 22

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital
Aspirus Ironwood Hospital
30.1 mi
Fire station
Marenisco Fire Department
9.4 mi
Hardware store
Knitts Hardware Hank
17.9 mi
Grocery
Lakewood Market
17.9 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 49947).

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

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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.