Off-grid site report
Winnebago County, WI
43.9607, -88.5909 · 856 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Winnebago 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 rulesWinnebago County, WI
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Varies locallyWinnebago County Planning & Zoning Department has countywide zoning authority, but only in unincorporated areas; villages and cities handle their own zoning. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyNo county-specific ordinance on tiny homes or standalone RV dwellings was found; manufactured home communities and campgrounds are separately licensed by the county Health Department, suggesting other setups go through standard zoning/building review. Confirm with Zoning.
Building permits & codes
Generally allowedThe Zoning Department issues zoning permits (it does not issue separate 'building' permits) and enforces state plumbing code; site verification is required if the property has a well or septic system. source
Septic & composting toilets
RestrictedWinnebago County administers the state POWTS program plus its own Chapter 167 sanitary ordinance, requiring septic systems and holding tanks to be inspected or pumped at least every three years; noncompliance can bring a citation. source
Greywater reuse
RestrictedNo county-specific greywater ordinance was found; it falls back to the state plumbing code baseline. Not confirmed beyond that.
Rainwater harvesting
Varies locallyNo county ordinance on rainwater harvesting was located; treated as inheriting the state baseline. Not confirmed at the county level.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedPrivate wells are legal and county Public Health recommends annual testing; the county also runs a well abandonment cost-share program through Land and Water Conservation. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo county ordinance directly addresses disconnecting a legal dwelling from electric or gas utility service; off-grid water/waste setups appear tolerated when built to code, but this isn't explicitly confirmed.
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 4.5 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 2.6 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,300 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 30 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 7,455 (cold)
- Frost-free season
- Apr 29 to Oct 8
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
ThedaCare Medical Center-Oshkosh - 4.3 mi
- Fire station
Fire Station 14/KOSH ARFF - 2.7 mi
- Hardware store
Harbor Freight Tools - 2.9 mi
- Grocery
ALDI - 2.6 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 54902).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Winnebago 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.