Off-grid site report

Madison County, NE

41.8281, -97.4552 · 1,585 ft elevation
Read this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Madison County, NE, 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 rulesMadison County, NE

Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Varies locallyUnincorporated Madison County is zoned under a joint Madison/Pierce County Planning and Zoning Department resolution, except where a city or village has taken over its own zoning jurisdiction (like Norfolk). Confirm your parcel's district and permitted uses with that office. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyA claimed county rule limiting tracts to two dwellings could not be confirmed on an official Madison County domain, and no official source addresses tiny home or RV occupancy standards. Not confirmed, ask the joint Planning and Zoning office directly.
Building permits & codes
RestrictedThe joint Planning and Zoning office issues building/zoning permits for unincorporated county land, and its practice requires an approved septic system before a building permit is issued. No separate structural building code beyond this was confirmed. source
Septic & composting toilets
RestrictedSeptic approval is required before a building permit, per county Planning and Inspections practice, but the governing standards are Nebraska's state-level NDEE Title 124 onsite wastewater program since no distinct Madison County, NE ordinance was confirmed. source
Greywater reuse
RestrictedNo Madison County-specific greywater ordinance was found; the state's NDEE Title 124 framework, which generally requires treatment or permitting, applies by default. Not confirmed whether the county adds anything beyond that.
Rainwater harvesting
Unclear - verifyNo official Madison County page addresses rainwater harvesting one way or the other, so this falls back to whatever the state baseline allows. Not confirmed at the county level.
Private wells & water rights
RestrictedMadison County sits within the Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District (part also in Lower Platte North NRD), which requires a permit before constructing most wells, especially above 50 gpm or when commingled with other wells; small single wells may be exempt. Nebraska DHHS also sets statewide well-construction standards.
Living disconnected from utilities
Varies locallyNo official rule was found mandating grid electric or municipal water hookup in unincorporated Madison County, but the county's septic-before-building-permit practice means full legal occupancy still runs through that wastewater approval step. source

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)
3.6 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
1,476 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND

Weather1991-2020

Precipitation
29 in/yr
Heating degree days
6,912 (cold)
Frost-free season
Apr 30 to Oct 3

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital
Faith Regional Health Services - West Campus
14.3 mi
Fire station
Madison Fire Department
0.1 mi
Hardware store
Menards
13.8 mi
Grocery
Walmart Supercenter
13.6 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 68748).

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.