Off-grid site report
Comal County, TX
29.6846, -98.1262 · 656 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Comal 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 rulesComal County, TX
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Generally allowedComal County has no countywide use-based zoning; Texas counties generally lack that authority. The county instead regulates land division through its Subdivision Regulations, administered by the County Engineer's Office. If your land is inside a city's limits or ETJ (New Braunfels, Bulverde, Garden Ridge, Fair Oaks Ranch), that municipality's rules override this. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyI could not find an official Comal County page setting minimum dwelling size or specific tiny-home/RV occupancy rules for unplatted lots. The subdivision rules do define and regulate mobile home parks, so multi-unit setups are covered, but single-lot tiny home or RV living isn't clearly addressed. Confirm directly with the County Engineer's Office. source
Building permits & codes
Varies locallyThere's no blanket countywide building-code permit for every structure, but Comal County does require permits for specific triggers: OSSF (septic), floodplain development, and work in road rights-of-way (PIPROW), per the County Permits Office and County Engineer's Office. A Fire Marshal permit may also apply in some cases, but that isn't fully confirmed on a current county page, so ask directly. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedSeptic (OSSF) systems are allowed but require a permit and approved plans before construction, alteration, or operation, administered by Comal County Environmental Health under Texas Administrative Code Chapter 285 with TCEQ oversight. Composting toilets don't have a distinct county permit pathway that I could confirm, so ask Environmental Health how they'd treat one. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyI found no official Comal County or TCEQ page describing a standalone greywater permit separate from the general OSSF rules; the state's Chapter 285 rules are the presumed baseline. A county sustainability outreach page mentions greywater reuse conceptually, but that's messaging, not a codified rule, so treat specifics as not confirmed and ask Environmental Health.
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedRainwater harvesting is permitted and actively encouraged. State law (Texas Local Government Code) directs municipalities and counties to promote it, and the Comal Trinity Groundwater Conservation District offers free consultations on rainwater harvesting setups. No county ordinance restricting it was found.
Private wells & water rights
Varies locallyWell regulation depends on which aquifer underlies your property: the Edwards Aquifer Authority manages permitting over roughly half the county, while the Comal Trinity Groundwater Conservation District manages the rest (Trinity Aquifer), except a small Fair Oaks Ranch sliver under a different district. Even small exempt household wells typically still need registration with the applicable district, so confirm which one covers your land before drilling. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyI found no official Comal County page requiring unincorporated properties to connect to utilities, so the state's default (no mandatory hookup law) appears to apply. Watch for POA deed restrictions or municipal code if you're near or inside a city's ETJ, since those could impose their own requirements the county doesn't control.
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 5.4 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 4.2 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,500 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 34 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 0 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 1,817 (mild)
- Frost-free season
- Mar 9 to Nov 25
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Guadalupe Regional Medical Center - 13.5 mi
- Fire station
Fire Station 5 - 1.0 mi
- Hardware store
Lowe's - 0.3 mi
- Grocery
Walmart Supercenter - 0.1 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 78131).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Comal 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.
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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.