Off-grid site report
Dawson County, TX
32.7016, -101.9160 · 2,966 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Dawson County, TX, 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 rulesDawson County, TX
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Unclear - verifyTexas counties generally lack zoning authority outside cities, and I found no Dawson County-specific zoning ordinance to confirm or contradict that. If your land is inside Lamesa's city limits, check with the city directly. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyNo Dawson County ordinance on tiny homes, minimum house size, or RV living was found. The state's narrow 2009 county authority for residential construction standards is the likely baseline, but Dawson County's specific stance isn't confirmed.
Building permits & codes
Unclear - verifyTexas has no statewide building code, and whether Dawson County has adopted one for unincorporated areas isn't confirmed on any official county page. Call the county directly before building. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedSeptic systems (OSSFs) are permitted and regulated statewide by TCEQ under Texas Health & Safety Code Chapter 366 and 30 TAC Chapter 285. Whether Dawson County itself issues the permits as a TCEQ-authorized agent, or whether the TCEQ Regional Office does, was not confirmed. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyTexas doesn't appear to have a standalone greywater program; it's handled within the same OSSF/septic rules. No Dawson County-specific greywater rule was found.
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedNo Dawson County restriction on rainwater harvesting was found, and Texas generally encourages it for domestic use as a state-level baseline.
Private wells & water rights
RestrictedDawson County lies within the Mesa Underground Water Conservation District, created by county voters in 1990, which regulates well permitting, registration, spacing, and production for the Ogallala and Edwards-Trinity aquifers, so pure rule of capture doesn't fully apply here.
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo Dawson County ordinance requiring utility hookups was found. Any mandatory-connection rule would most likely come from an incorporated town like Lamesa rather than the county itself.
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 6.4 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 5.2 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,781 kWh
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Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 19 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 4 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 3,351 (moderate)
- Frost-free season
- Apr 3 to Nov 5
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Medical Arts Hospital - 4.5 mi
- Fire station
- none within range
- Hardware store
Davis Furniture & Hardware - 3.1 mi
- Grocery
Claiborne's Thriftway - 3.4 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 79331).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Dawson County, TX?The rules above are the jurisdiction. The land check runs the parcel itself: flood zone, soils and septic suitability, wetlands, slope, access, climate, and these verdicts, from a parcel number or coordinates.
Check a parcel →Share or save this report:New report
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 21, 2026; agencies update their layers on their own schedules. Planning data, not a survey or legal advice.
New here, or not sure where this fits? Start here walks through the whole thing in order.