Off-grid site report
Hennepin County, MN
44.8775, -93.5068 · 912 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Hennepin County, MN, 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 rulesHennepin County, MN
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Varies locallyHennepin County has essentially no unincorporated land to zone; land-use authority rests with the 45 individual cities under state law (Minn. Stat. Β§462.357), or nearby townships. Check with the specific city or township where the parcel is located. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyNo official county-level standard was found for tiny homes or RVs as permanent dwellings; this is decided city-by-city on top of the state building code baseline. Not confirmed at the county level. source
Building permits & codes
Varies locallyThe Minnesota State Building Code is mandatory across the metro including Hennepin County, but permits are issued by the city where the property sits, not the county. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedHennepin County directly regulates septic (SSTS) systems countywide, including some setbacks stricter than state minimums, such as a wetland separation requirement, under its SSTS ordinance administered by County Environmental Health. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNo standalone county greywater rule was found; it likely falls under the SSTS ordinance's general prohibition on wastewater reaching the ground surface or surface water without an MPCA permit, but this is an inference, not a confirmed rule. Ask Hennepin County Environmental Health. source
Rainwater harvesting
Unclear - verifyNo official Hennepin County page addresses rainwater catchment; it appears to default to the state baseline where rain barrels are unregulated and plumbed systems fall under state plumbing code review.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedWells must generally be installed by a contractor licensed by the Minnesota Department of Health, with an exception for personal wells on one's own farm or abode land; Hennepin County is not a delegated well-construction permitting county, so MDH is the primary authority, though the county runs some well-sealing and disclosure programs. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo county ordinance was found requiring or prohibiting disconnection from electric, gas, or municipal water/sewer utilities; this is a city or township-level building/utility-connection question, and the county's role is limited to septic compliance.
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 4.7 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 2.8 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,371 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 31 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 7,614 (severe)
- Frost-free season
- Apr 25 to Oct 8
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
M Health West Bank Emergency Department - 14.5 mi
- Fire station
Hopkins Fire Department - 5.2 mi
- Hardware store
Northern Tool + Equipment - 2.5 mi
- Grocery
Kowalski's Market - 3.4 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 55346).
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.