Off-grid site report
Des Moines County, IA
40.8137, -91.1586 · 705 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Des Moines County, IA, 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 rulesDes Moines County, IA
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Varies locallyDes Moines County's Zoning Ordinance, administered by the Land Use Department, only covers land within 2 miles of Burlington; outside that area there's no countywide zoning, so rules would depend on any incorporated town. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyNo county page specifically addresses tiny homes or RV occupancy; within the 2-mile Burlington zone, structures must conform to the applicable zoning district, and state manufactured-home protections may set the baseline elsewhere. Ask the Land Use Department for a parcel-specific answer. source
Building permits & codes
Unclear - verifyNo official Des Moines County building-code or permit page was found; the county's materials focus on zoning and subdivision rather than building permitting, so this may default to individual cities under the state framework. Confirm with the Land Use Department or County Auditor. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedDes Moines County Public Health's Environmental Health Division handles plan review, site approval, permitting, and inspection of septic systems under county Board of Health ordinances and the state's onsite wastewater rules. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNo Des Moines County or Iowa DNR page specifically addresses residential greywater reuse; it would fall under general onsite wastewater rules administered by the county's Environmental Health office, so ask them directly. source
Rainwater harvesting
Unclear - verifyNo county or state page was found permitting, restricting, or prohibiting residential rainwater catchment; this is genuinely unconfirmed, so check with Environmental Health before tying a system to a dwelling's water supply.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedDes Moines County Public Health's Environmental Health Division performs plan review, site approval, permitting, and inspection of private wells under county ordinances and Iowa DNR delegation via the state's IWIS system. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Varies locallyNo county ordinance was found banning grid disconnection, but any dwelling in the 2-mile Burlington zoning area must still meet zoning occupancy standards, and any private water or wastewater setup countywide needs the applicable well/septic permits. source
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 4.8 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 3.1 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,380 kWh
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Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 38 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 24 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 5,599 (cold)
- Frost-free season
- Apr 14 to Oct 22
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Emergency Department - 0.9 mi
- Fire station
West Burlington Volunteer Fire Department - 0.7 mi
- Hardware store
Harbor Freight Tools - 0.1 mi
- Grocery
Walmart Supercenter - 0.1 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 52655).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Des Moines County, IA?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.