Off-grid site report

Clare County, MI

43.8195, -84.7686 · 840 ft elevation

Read this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Clare County, MI, 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 rulesClare County, MI

Zoning & raw-land occupancy

Varies locallyClare County has no countywide zoning ordinance; each township and the City of Clare set their own rules, so you must confirm with the specific local jurisdiction covering your parcel. source

Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs

Unclear - verifyNo Clare County or township-specific rule on tiny homes or RV dwelling was found; any dwelling still needs county construction-code permits after local zoning approval. Ask your township zoning administrator about RV occupancy and hookup rules directly. source

Building permits & codes

RestrictedClare County Community Development administers Michigan's Construction Codes and issues building, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical permits for the City of Clare and participating townships countywide. source

Septic & composting toilets

RestrictedThe Central Michigan District Health Department (CMDHD) requires a septic permit before a building permit can be issued, and building without one is a sanitary code violation; no composting-toilet-specific policy was found. source

Greywater reuse

Generally allowedNo Clare County or CMDHD-specific greywater rule was found; this appears to fall back to the statewide Michigan Plumbing Code baseline.

Rainwater harvesting

Generally allowedNo Clare County-specific rainwater harvesting rule was found; this appears to follow the state baseline with no local restriction identified.

Private wells & water rights

Generally allowedCMDHD requires permits and conducts inspections for private wells under state and local sanitary code; large-quantity irrigation wells of 75 gallons per minute or more also need EGLE registration.

Living disconnected from utilities

Unclear - verifyNo explicit ban on full utility disconnection was found, but obtaining a county building permit in practice requires an approved well and septic setup, which acts as a gatekeeper for off-grid properties.

Open the full county page with sources →

Sun30-year normals

Peak-sun hours, annual average: 4.3 hrs/day
Worst month (sizes an off-grid array): 2.0 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels: 1,246 kWh

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Weather1991-2020

Precipitation: 32 in/yr
Snowfall: 36 in/yr
Heating degree days: 7,210 (cold)
Frost-free season: Apr 29 to Oct 26
Design low: -9 °F

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital MyMichigan Medical Center Clare: 0.1 mi
Fire station Isabella North-East Fire District: 8.1 mi
Hardware store Ace Hardware of Clare: 1.3 mi
Grocery Witbeck's Family Foods: 0.4 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 48617).

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.