Off-grid site report

Meeker County, MN

45.0215, -94.4221 · 1,161 ft elevation

Read this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Meeker County, MN, 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 rulesMeeker County, MN

Zoning & raw-land occupancy

RestrictedMeeker County Planning and Zoning administers its own Zoning Ordinance plus a Shoreland Management Ordinance, issuing land use, conditional use, and rezoning permits countywide. source

Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs

Unclear - verifyNo Meeker County document specifically addresses tiny homes or RVs as permanent dwellings; this would be decided case-by-case by the county Zoning Administrator, so ask Planning and Zoning directly.

Building permits & codes

RestrictedMeeker County has adopted the Minnesota State Building Code countywide by ordinance, with its Planning and Zoning department acting as the code enforcement agency. source

Septic & composting toilets

Generally allowedThe county runs its own SSTS program under state-required rules, with documented local setbacks (for example, distances to wetlands, road right-of-way, and accessory buildings); permits are issued by the county. source

Greywater reuse

Unclear - verifyNo standalone Meeker County greywater ordinance was found; it would fall under state SSTS rules as administered locally, so confirm specifics with the county's SSTS administrator.

Rainwater harvesting

Unclear - verifyNo Meeker County ordinance addressing rainwater catchment was found; this appears to inherit the state baseline with no local rule confirmed either way.

Private wells & water rights

Generally allowedPrivate wells are governed statewide by the Minnesota Department of Health Well Code; no distinct Meeker County well permitting program was identified beyond setback references in SSTS documents. source

Living disconnected from utilities

Unclear - verifyNo Meeker County text was found requiring utility hookups as a condition of occupancy; any such requirement would surface during building or zoning permit review, so confirm with Planning and Zoning.

Open the full county page with sources →

Sun30-year normals

Peak-sun hours, annual average: 4.7 hrs/day
Worst month (sizes an off-grid array): 2.7 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels: 1,360 kWh

JFMAMJJASOND

Weather1991-2020

Precipitation: 29 in/yr
Snowfall: 43 in/yr
Heating degree days: 8,581 (severe)
Frost-free season: May 3 to Oct 1

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital Meeker Memorial Hospital: 8.6 mi
Fire station Dassel Volunteer Fire Department: 6.9 mi
Hardware store Carpets Plus Colortile Interior Design Showcase: 8.8 mi
Grocery Walmart Supercenter: 7.7 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 55324).

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.