Off-grid site report
Hartley County, TX
35.9052, -102.4074 · 3,927 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Hartley 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 rulesHartley County, TX
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Unclear - verifyTexas law gives zoning power to cities, not counties, so Hartley County itself likely has no zoning ordinance for unincorporated land. Whether the county requires subdivision or floodplain permits was not confirmed; incorporated towns (Hartley, Channing, Dalhart) may have their own municipal zoning. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyNo Hartley County minimum dwelling size, tiny-home, or RV occupancy rule was found. Texas counties have only narrow permissive authority here and there's no confirmation the county has used it.
Building permits & codes
Unclear - verifyTexas has no statewide building code; adoption is a local option left to counties and cities. It was not confirmed whether Hartley County has adopted a building code for unincorporated areas. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedTCEQ (state agency) requires a permit for septic systems and other on-site sewage facilities, with a possible exemption for single-family homes on 10+ acres meeting site conditions. TCEQ says it is usually not the local permitting authority, and Hartley County's specific permitting agent was not confirmed. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyTexas folds greywater rules into its OSSF/septic program rather than regulating it separately, and no Hartley County-specific greywater rule was found.
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedRainwater harvesting is encouraged at the Texas state level, and no Hartley County restriction was found.
Private wells & water rights
RestrictedPart of Hartley County lies within the North Plains Groundwater Conservation District, which issues well permits and regulates groundwater use; coverage is partial, so a landowner must confirm with NPGCD whether a specific parcel is inside the district.
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo Hartley County or Texas state law was found requiring grid utility connection. Any such requirement would come from a municipal ordinance in Hartley, Channing, or Dalhart, none of which were checked in this research.
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 6.3 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 4.7 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,772 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 19 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 4,820 (moderate)
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Coon Memorial Hospital - 11.9 mi
- Fire station
Hartley County VFD - 1.5 mi
- Hardware store
Bartlett's Lumber & Hardware - 12.7 mi
- Grocery
Dollar General Market - 11.6 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 79044).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Hartley 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.