Off-grid site report
Racine County, WI
42.7867, -87.8074 · 637 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Racine 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 rulesRacine County, WI
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Varies locallyRacine County administers countywide zoning under Chapter 20 of its Code of Ordinances, including shoreland setbacks tied to DNR rules, but incorporated cities/villages (City of Racine, Village of Rochester, Village/Town of Waterford) run their own separate zoning codes. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
RestrictedCounty staff say dwelling siting depends on many factors including a minimum 'core living area,' but no official county document confirms a specific square-footage minimum; a claimed 800-sq-ft figure appears only on a non-official blog and is not confirmed. source
Building permits & codes
Generally allowedBuilding permits for one- and two-family dwellings follow Wisconsin's statewide Uniform Dwelling Code, administered in unincorporated towns by Racine County Development Services; incorporated municipalities issue their own permits separately. source
Septic & composting toilets
RestrictedRacine County's Chapter 19 ordinance requires a sanitary permit for any POWTS or non-plumbing sanitation system, explicitly including composting and incinerating toilets, under the state's Comm 91 code framework. source
Greywater reuse
RestrictedNo county-specific greywater ordinance was found; the state Wisconsin DSPS plumbing/administrative code is the governing reference by default, and it is generally restrictive on greywater reuse. source
Rainwater harvesting
Varies locallyNo Racine County ordinance on rainwater harvesting was found; state DSPS plumbing code limits on indoor/potable use would apply by default, but this is not confirmed at the county level.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedPrivate wells are governed by the state's well code (DNR NR 812), with Racine County Development Services handling related inspections such as groundwater monitoring wells. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo Racine County ordinance or state guidance directly addresses full off-grid utility disconnection for an otherwise legal dwelling; call Development Services for case-specific guidance.
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
- 1,378 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 34 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 6,896 (cold)
- Frost-free season
- Apr 24 to Oct 25
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Ascension All Saints Hospital Spring Street Campus - 3.9 mi
- Fire station
Racine Fire Department Station 2 - 3.1 mi
- Hardware store
Kortendick Ace Hardware - 1.3 mi
- Grocery
Pantry Foods - 1.4 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 53402).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Racine 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.