Off-grid site report

Cerro Gordo County, IA

43.2456, -93.1231 · 1,139 ft elevation

Read this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Cerro Gordo 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 rulesCerro Gordo County, IA

Zoning & raw-land occupancy

Varies locallyCerro Gordo County's Zoning Ordinance (No. 15), administered by Planning & Zoning, governs unincorporated land; incorporated towns like Mason City and Clear Lake set their own separate rules. source

Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs

RestrictedThe county zoning ordinance says recreational vehicles/travel trailers are for vacation or recreational use, not permanent habitation; tiny home/ADU specifics were not confirmed on an official county page. source

Building permits & codes

RestrictedA Zoning Permit from the county Zoning Administrator is required before building, grading, or altering structures, and private well/septic use must be disclosed and separately permitted through county Public Health. source

Septic & composting toilets

Generally allowedCerro Gordo County Public Health issues septic permits, does site evaluations, and inspects private sewage disposal systems under authority delegated to county boards of health statewide. source

Greywater reuse

Unclear - verifyNo county ordinance or state statute specifically addressing greywater reuse was found; not confirmed, so ask Planning & Zoning or county Public Health before installing a system.

Rainwater harvesting

Unclear - verifyNo Cerro Gordo County or Iowa DNR page addressing residential rainwater harvesting was found; not confirmed, so check with Planning & Zoning directly.

Private wells & water rights

Generally allowedIowa DNR's statewide private well program is administered locally, so well construction permits are issued through Cerro Gordo County via the state's IWIS system, and the county Health Department also offers well testing. source

Living disconnected from utilities

Varies locallyNo outright county ban on disconnecting from public utilities was found, but any habitable off-grid structure still must satisfy county septic and well permitting requirements. source

Open the full county page with sources →

Sun30-year normals

Peak-sun hours, annual average: 4.8 hrs/day
Worst month (sizes an off-grid array): 2.8 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels: 1,402 kWh

JFMAMJJASOND

Weather1991-2020

Precipitation: 35 in/yr
Heating degree days: 7,789 (severe)
Frost-free season: Apr 30 to Oct 2

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center: 8.1 mi
Fire station Plymouth Fire Department: 0.0 mi
Hardware store Fleet Farm: 9.1 mi
Grocery Hy-Vee: 7.2 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 50464).

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.