Off-grid site report

Butte County, SD

44.6490, -103.8566 · 3,140 ft elevation

Read this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Butte County, SD, 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 rulesButte County, SD

Zoning & raw-land occupancy

Varies locallyButte County Equalization & Planning and its Planning Commission handle zoning, rezoning, conditional use permits, and subdivisions under state law, but specific district rules and minimum lot sizes for raw land were not confirmed in official sources. source

Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs

Unclear - verifyNo Butte County-specific rule on tiny homes, minimum dwelling size, or RVs as residences was found; this is set at the county level, so ask Equalization & Planning directly.

Building permits & codes

Varies locallyButte County Equalization and Planning issues building permits for all areas outside Belle Fourche city limits, but whether the county has adopted a specific building code was not confirmed. source

Septic & composting toilets

Generally allowedA septic permit is required before installing or modifying any wastewater system, with design by a Professional Engineer and installation by a state-licensed installer, per Butte County Equalization & Planning tied to state standards. Composting toilets are not separately addressed.

Greywater reuse

Unclear - verifyNo Butte County or South Dakota official guidance on greywater reuse was found; ask the county Equalization & Planning office directly.

Rainwater harvesting

Unclear - verifyNo Butte County ordinance on rainwater harvesting was found. State DANR rules say domestic water use, which may include catchment, doesn't need a water right permit below certain volume/rate thresholds, but nothing rainwater-specific was located. source

Private wells & water rights

Generally allowedWells are regulated statewide by SD DANR's Water Rights Program and must meet state well construction standards; domestic use below certain thresholds doesn't require a water right permit. No added Butte County well ordinance was found. source

Living disconnected from utilities

Varies locallyNo Butte County or South Dakota rule prohibiting off-grid utility disconnection was found, but county building and septic permitting still applies regardless of grid connection status.

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): 3.4 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels: 1,460 kWh

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Weather1991-2020

Precipitation: 18 in/yr
Heating degree days: 6,837 (cold)
Frost-free season: May 8 to Sep 26

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital Monument Health Lead-Deadwood Hospital: 20.3 mi
Fire station Belle Fourche Fire Hall: 1.0 mi
Hardware store Lawn Enforcement Vehicles: 1.6 mi
Grocery Robb's Inc-Grocery: 0.5 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 57717).

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.