Off-grid site report
Sterling County, TX
31.8363, -100.9876 · 2,287 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Sterling 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 rulesSterling County, TX
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Unclear - verifyNo Sterling County zoning ordinance was found on the county's official site, and Texas counties generally lack home-rule zoning authority over unincorporated land. Sterling City may have limited rules but none were located.
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyNo county ordinance on minimum dwelling size, tiny homes, or RV occupancy was found; Texas gives counties only narrow opt-in authority here and there's no evidence Sterling County has used it.
Building permits & codes
Unclear - verifyNo Sterling County building permit page or adopted code was found. Texas has no statewide building code, so confirm with the County Judge/Commissioners Court before assuming a permit is or isn't needed. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedTCEQ, the state agency, requires a permit for OSSF (septic) construction and operation, with a possible exemption for single-family homes on 10+ acres meeting state siting rules. Whether Sterling County or TCEQ directly handles local permitting was not confirmed. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNo standalone county or state greywater ordinance was found; greywater is generally handled within the state's OSSF rules rather than as its own program.
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedNo Sterling County restriction on rainwater harvesting was found, and the county groundwater district's own management plan lists it as a goal category, suggesting no local prohibition. source
Private wells & water rights
RestrictedSterling County is inside its own Groundwater Conservation District, the Sterling County Underground Water Conservation District, which requires registration and preregistration for all wells, exempt or non-exempt, plus state minimum spacing of 330 feet from property lines. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo Sterling County or Sterling City ordinance requiring connection to electric, water, or sewer utilities was found on official sources.
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 6.1 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 4.9 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,698 kWh
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Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 20 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 2 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 2,860 (mild)
- Frost-free season
- Apr 4 to Nov 2
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
- none within range
- Fire station
Sterling County Volunteer Fire Department - 0.0 mi
- 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 76951).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Sterling 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.