Off-grid site report
Buffalo County, WI
44.0836, -91.6035 · 830 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Buffalo 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 rulesBuffalo County, WI
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
RestrictedBuffalo County has a comprehensive countywide zoning ordinance administered by the county Zoning Department covering all unincorporated land, including a Comprehensive Land Use Plan adopted under state statute. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Varies locallyThe zoning ordinance separately regulates 'Recreational Dwellings' and 'Recreational Vehicles' as distinct use categories, but specific standards or allowed durations were not confirmed from available materials; ask the county Zoning Department. source
Building permits & codes
Generally allowedNew construction requires soil test, sanitary permit, zoning permit, then a state Uniform Dwelling Code building permit, with UDC inspections contracted out by the county; a driveway/site access permit is also required before an address is issued. source
Septic & composting toilets
RestrictedBuffalo County administers the statewide POWTS (SPS 383) septic code, requiring a certified soil tester and a formal sanitary permit; composting toilets are not separately addressed and default to the same state code baseline. source
Greywater reuse
RestrictedNo Buffalo County-specific greywater ordinance was found; this falls back to Wisconsin's state DSPS plumbing code baseline. Confirm specifics with the county Zoning Department.
Rainwater harvesting
Varies locallyNo county-specific rainwater ordinance was found; outdoor/non-potable collection is generally unregulated statewide while indoor/potable use falls under state DSPS plumbing code.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedPrivate wells are governed by Wisconsin DNR's statewide Well and Pump Code (NR 812), not a separate Buffalo County ordinance, though the county's septic siting process factors in well separation distances. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo Buffalo County rule explicitly permitting or barring full utility disconnection was found; building and sanitary permitting apply regardless of hookups, so this is not confirmed and worth asking the county directly.
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 4.7 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 2.7 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,373 kWh
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Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 33 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 37 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 7,595 (severe)
- Frost-free season
- Apr 27 to Oct 12
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Community Memorial Hospital - 3.6 mi
- Fire station
Winona Fire Department - 2.6 mi
- Hardware store
Burggraf's Ace Hardware - 2.7 mi
- Grocery
Bluff Country Coop - 2.7 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 54629).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Buffalo 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.