Off-grid site report
Borden County, TX
32.7701, -101.4450 · 2,553 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Borden 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 rulesBorden County, TX
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Unclear - verifyNo Borden County zoning ordinance or planning department was found; Texas counties generally lack general zoning power over unincorporated land, and the Commissioners Court (which would adopt any such rule) has none on record. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyNo county ordinance on minimum dwelling size, tiny homes, or RV occupancy was found; not confirmed whether Borden County has adopted any state-authorized residential construction standard.
Building permits & codes
Unclear - verifyTexas has no statewide building code and counties must adopt one themselves; no building or permitting department is listed on Borden County's official site. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedTexas requires a permit and approved plan for on-site sewage facilities (OSSF), administered by a local authorized agent or TCEQ's regional office; a 10-acre rule can exempt single-family systems meeting specific siting conditions. Whether Borden County itself administers OSSF permits is not confirmed. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyGreywater is addressed within the state's OSSF rules rather than a separate program; no Borden County-specific greywater rule or variance was found. source
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedNo Borden County ordinance restricts rainwater harvesting; this is governed by general state-level encouragement, not a specific county rule.
Private wells & water rights
Unclear - verifyNot confirmed whether Borden County lies within an active groundwater conservation district; absent confirmation, the state's default rule of capture for groundwater applies. The county's 'Water Department' function (utility vs. regulatory) is also unconfirmed. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Generally allowedNo Borden County ordinance requires connection to electric, water, or sewer utilities for occupancy in the unincorporated county; such mandates are typically city-level, not county or state.
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 6.2 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 4.9 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,729 kWh
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Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 19 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 1 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 2,443 (mild)
- Frost-free season
- Mar 24 to Nov 12
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Medical Arts Hospital - 30.4 mi
- Fire station
- none within range
- Hardware store
- none within range
- Grocery
- none within range
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 79738).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Borden 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.