Off-grid site report
Dodge County, WI
43.4056, -88.7051 · 929 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Dodge 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 rulesDodge County, WI
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Varies locallyDodge County's Land Use Code applies only to towns that have adopted county zoning; other towns/cities zone independently, so raw-land occupancy rules are not uniform countywide. Check the county's zoning map tool for your specific town. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Varies locallyDodge County issues Land Use Permits for Land Use Code compliance, but Building Permits under the state Uniform Dwelling Code come from your town/municipality. No county-specific tiny-home ordinance was found, and stand-alone RV living outside campgrounds is not clearly addressed. source
Building permits & codes
Generally allowedBuilding permits are permitted but split between two authorities: the county for Land Use Code compliance and the town/municipality for Uniform Dwelling Code compliance. Both are required. source
Septic & composting toilets
RestrictedDodge County administers the state's POWTS code (SPS 383) locally, including a state mandate that all septic systems be serviced at least once every three years. Composting toilets are allowed under state code but liquid effluent still needs POWTS-compliant handling. source
Greywater reuse
RestrictedNo Dodge County-specific greywater ordinance was found; greywater reuse falls under the same state POWTS/plumbing framework as septic, administered locally by the county. source
Rainwater harvesting
Unclear - verifyNo Dodge County ordinance on rainwater harvesting was found. It's presumed to inherit the state baseline of outdoor non-potable collection being fine, but this is not confirmed at the county level.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedWisconsin delegates well administration to trained county staff under state rules (NR 812/NR 845), and Dodge County's Land Resources and Parks office keeps well records and performs a share of required inspections locally. DNR sets statewide construction standards. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo Dodge County ordinance directly addresses full disconnection from electric, gas, or municipal utilities. This is not confirmed at the county level; ask your town's building inspector since local Uniform Dwelling Code review may indirectly matter.
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
- 1,321 kWh
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Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 33 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 40 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 7,552 (severe)
- Frost-free season
- Apr 30 to Oct 5
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Marshfield Medical Center-Beaver Dam - 6.8 mi
- Fire station
Horicon Fire Department - 4.3 mi
- Hardware store
Horicon Ace Hardware - 3.9 mi
- Grocery
Piggly Wiggly - 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 53039).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Dodge 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.