Off-grid site report

Menominee County, MI

45.1077, -87.6145 · 604 ft elevation
Read this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Menominee 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 rulesMenominee County, MI

Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Varies locallyMenominee County has no countywide zoning; only seven townships/villages (Cedarville, Ingallston, Lake, Mellen, Stephenson, Harris, Village of Powers) have adopted zoning ordinances per the county building department. Townships without a listed ordinance may have no zoning at all, so confirm with your specific township. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
RestrictedThe Menominee County Building Codes Department requires permits for new dwellings, additions, moved structures, and manufactured homes, with small accessory structures exempted. No county-specific tiny-home or RV-as-dwelling ordinance was found, so township zoning would govern siting.
Building permits & codes
RestrictedThe county Building Codes Department enforces state construction codes and issues building permits after plan review and fee payment; the City of Menominee runs its own separate permit process inside city limits. Electrical, mechanical, and plumbing permits come from the state, not the county. source
Septic & composting toilets
RestrictedSeptic (OSTDS) permits are issued by the joint Delta & Menominee Counties Public Health department under the Delta & Menominee Sanitary Code, with permits valid for a set period. Composting toilets as an alternative are not addressed in official sources, so ask PHDM directly. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNo Menominee County or PHDM-specific greywater rule was found; this likely falls under Michigan's state plumbing code baseline, but local guidance isn't confirmed. Ask PHDM or the county building department to be sure.
Rainwater harvesting
Unclear - verifyNo county or PHDM page on rainwater harvesting was found in research; it likely follows Michigan's statewide plumbing code framework with no added local restriction identified, but this isn't confirmed locally.
Private wells & water rights
RestrictedPrivate well permits are issued by PHDM under the state Water Well Construction and Pump Installation Code, with EGLE oversight; PHDM also offers water testing support for bacteria and nitrates.
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo explicit ban on disconnecting from utilities was found, but a legal new dwelling still needs an approved well and septic permit even if fully off-grid, per county and PHDM permitting requirements.

Open the full county page with sources →

Sun30-year normals

Peak-sun hours, annual average
4.5 hrs/day
Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
2.5 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
1,318 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND

Weather1991-2020

Precipitation
33 in/yr
Snowfall
44 in/yr
Heating degree days
7,843 (severe)
Frost-free season
May 1 to Oct 9

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital
Aurora Medical Center - Bay Area
3.1 mi
Fire station
Marinette Fire Department
0.9 mi
Hardware store
Ace Hardware
0.3 mi
Grocery
Jack's Fresh Market
0.3 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 49858).

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.