Off-grid site report
Marinette County, WI
45.1000, -87.6307 · 607 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Marinette 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 rulesMarinette County, WI
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Varies locallyMarinette County administers shoreland, wetland, and floodplain zoning countywide under state mandate, but general zoning outside those overlays is set by individual towns like Grover or Wausaukee. Where town and county rules conflict, the stricter one applies. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Varies locallyTown ordinances govern dwellings, tiny homes, and RVs; the Town of Wausaukee allows a privy permit in place of a sanitary permit for structures without plumbing, but no Marinette town-specific tiny-house rule was confirmed. Statewide Uniform Dwelling Code minimums still apply to permanent one/two-family homes.
Building permits & codes
Generally allowedBuilding permits are issued by the town (or the City of Marinette within city limits), not a unified county building department, and require sanitary documentation up front. Properties in the shoreland/wetland/floodplain overlay need a county zoning permit before the town permit.
Septic & composting toilets
RestrictedWisconsin's statewide POWTS code (administered by DSPS with DNR) governs septic systems, and Marinette County's sanitarian office handles front-line permitting and inspection. Privy permits are a separate, town-coordinated process for non-plumbed structures. source
Greywater reuse
RestrictedNo Marinette-specific greywater ordinance was found, so the statewide DSPS plumbing code, which requires a permit and licensed installer for greywater systems, applies by default.
Rainwater harvesting
Varies locallyNo county or town ordinance addressing rainwater harvesting was found; outdoor non-potable collection is generally unrestricted under state rules while indoor/potable use falls under the DSPS plumbing code.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedDomestic wells fall under the Wisconsin DNR's statewide Well and Pump Code (NR 812); no distinct Marinette County well ordinance was identified.
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo Marinette County or town ordinance was found that directly addresses fully disconnecting from electric or municipal utilities; sanitary/privy permit requirements indirectly touch on off-grid wastewater handling but a general rule is not confirmed. source
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 4.5 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 2.4 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,336 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 33 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 44 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 7,843 (severe)
- Frost-free season
- May 1 to Oct 9
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Aurora Medical Center - Bay Area - 2.3 mi
- Fire station
Marinette Fire Department - 0.3 mi
- Hardware store
Ace Hardware - 0.7 mi
- Grocery
Jack's Fresh Market - 0.7 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 54143).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Marinette 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.