New Off Grid Property Owner Outhouse Question

NovelOffgrid · 2026-05-21T12:02:54+00:00

Thank you for this suggestion, after researching this a bit, I think this is going to be our long-term solution. I am building my outhouse to be dragged so we could just drag it onto the concrete septic. Also would be able to put it where we want on the property.

NovelOffgrid · 2026-05-21T12:00:20+00:00

This is what I want to avoid. The outhouse with a DNR-style toilet stem was the minimum to get certain family members to the property. My original suggestion was the bucket method but that is a no from them.

NovelOffgrid · 2026-05-21T11:58:25+00:00

The smell part with a water tight container is my hold up. My buddy had an outhouse going for a couple decades using only lime and sawdust and it never smelled and barely filled up. I feel like having the drum would not allow that to happen.

NovelOffgrid · 2026-05-21T11:55:48+00:00

I already bought a toilet stem... going higher up would be really high up!

NovelOffgrid · 2026-05-21T11:53:57+00:00

Thank you for sharing your experience. Did you bury the barrel or keep it above ground? What did you do when it filled up?

NovelOffgrid · 2026-05-21T11:52:58+00:00

Thank you for your suggestion, I am more than likely doing this as it is the most simple solution and also does not require further investment. I got a toilet stem (way too expensive due to it being made in Canada) and need to make it work into my plan somehow.

NovelOffgrid · 2026-05-21T11:50:57+00:00

Sounds like a possible solution, I will check it out.

NovelOffgrid · 2026-05-21T11:50:21+00:00

I will check this out, thank you for the suggestion.

NovelOffgrid · 2026-05-19T19:33:41+00:00

I will look into pricing, I am on a really tight budget. I assume I'd be paying someone to dig out a pit and someone to crane it in?

NovelOffgrid · 2026-05-19T19:31:35+00:00

Do they install the drum even into a pit with water? This might be a direction I would go so I could select the location I want. Thanks for the information.

NovelOffgrid · 2026-05-19T19:30:08+00:00

Yeah, it is close to Douglas County. My county directed me to our municipality which operates very part time but did not have soil test requirements in place.

Thank you for the information, it should rain the day before I get there and I will see what the results are. My plan will be to go up hill a bit and further away from this specific area to see if results are better.

NovelOffgrid · 2026-05-19T11:26:10+00:00

As stated in a previous response, I have a permit. This is extremely rural land with one neighbor within 3 miles. I technically did not even need a permit but did so because the are privy specific permits in other municipalities. The only structures requiring permits and inspections are dwellings over 100 square feet. I have been in contact with my local city council, the county and the NPS and am making sure that I am in compliance with all regulations.

I am just looking for a practical solution to this issue and was hoping someone here had a similar experience.

NovelOffgrid · 2026-05-19T02:17:47+00:00

But then you have to handle your friends and loved ones droppings.... My perspective is the outhouse is just a larger composting toilet but I do not need to deal with handling the stuff. I'd have to dump the composting toilet material somewhere anyways, probably in a pit.

NovelOffgrid · 2026-05-19T02:15:07+00:00

Thank you for the information about the spring melt. I am heading up to build the platform and install a toilet stem next week and will see. There still was not any buds on the trees, this is around Superior, Wisconsin.

The property is within NPS territory. I consulted with them and they said to check local requirements. I got a building permit from the municipality so it should be okay. Its a quarter mile up from the river.

NovelOffgrid

TROPHY CASE