Off-grid site report

Gregory County, SD

43.2322, -99.4304 · 2,165 ft elevation

Read this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Gregory County, SD, 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 rulesGregory County, SD

Zoning & raw-land occupancy

RestrictedGregory County has adopted a countywide zoning ordinance administered by a Zoning Administrator; a permit is required before erecting or altering any structure, and violations carry a daily fine per county materials. Minimum acreage rules for building appear to exist and are under active discussion by the Planning Commission. source

Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs

Unclear - verifyNo Gregory County ordinance specifically addressing tiny homes or RV dwelling was found; the general permit-required rule likely applies but placement/occupancy specifics are not confirmed. Ask the Zoning Administrator directly.

Building permits & codes

RestrictedA county building permit is mandatory under the zoning ordinance, with fines for noncompliance; whether the county has adopted a specific building code edition is not confirmed on the county's site. source

Septic & composting toilets

Varies locallySeptic systems are regulated statewide by DANR, requiring certified installers; whether Gregory County itself issues the local septic permit or defers fully to the state was not confirmed, so confirm with the Zoning Administrator. source

Greywater reuse

Unclear - verifyNo Gregory County or South Dakota administrative rule specifically addressing residential greywater reuse was found in official sources.

Rainwater harvesting

Unclear - verifyNo Gregory County ordinance or DANR rule specific to rainwater harvesting was found; state domestic-use water-right exemption is background context but doesn't directly regulate rain catchment. source

Private wells & water rights

Generally allowedWells are regulated statewide by DANR's Water Rights Program; a licensed well driller is required, and most household use is exempt from a water-right permit unless it exceeds set daily or per-minute thresholds. No Gregory County-specific well ordinance was found. source

Living disconnected from utilities

Generally allowedNo Gregory County ordinance was found barring off-grid or utility-disconnected living. Electrical work is licensed statewide through the SD Electrical Commission, with an owner's exemption for one's own residence.

Open the full county page with sources →

Sun30-year normals

Peak-sun hours, annual average: 5.1 hrs/day
Worst month (sizes an off-grid array): 3.7 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels: 1,483 kWh

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Weather1991-2020

Precipitation: 27 in/yr
Snowfall: 45 in/yr
Heating degree days: 7,293 (cold)
Frost-free season: May 5 to Oct 1

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital Avera Gregory Hospital: 0.5 mi
Fire station Colome Volunteer Fire Department: 14.3 mi
Hardware store True Value: 7.8 mi
Grocery Buche Foods: 0.5 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 57533).

Size a solar system Heat loss & insulation Firewood per winter Rainwater harvest Garden size Panel tilt

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.