Off-grid site report
Ellis County, TX
32.4175, -96.8403 · 640 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Ellis 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 rulesEllis County, TX
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Unclear - verifyNo countywide zoning in unincorporated Ellis County, but the county requires development permits for structures and excavation. Cities and their ETJs within the county do zone, so proximity to a town matters.
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Varies locallyTiny homes, manufactured homes, and RVs are handled through the county's development authorization and RV park rules (one residential unit per RV space); no official countywide minimum size rule was confirmed. Private subdivision deed restrictions can independently limit home type or size. source
Building permits & codes
RestrictedEllis County requires a development permit for any structure or excavation/grading in unincorporated areas, per county development orders and its Fire Code; floodplain construction is allowed but likely needs an elevation certificate. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedOn-site sewage facilities are permitted and administered directly by Ellis County under authority delegated by TCEQ, following the state's Chapter 285 rules and Water Code Chapter 26. Composting toilets are not separately addressed in official county material. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNo standalone Ellis County or TCEQ page addresses greywater specifically; it is presumably folded into the OSSF/septic framework as at the state level, but this is not confirmed for the county. Ask the Department of Development to be sure.
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedRainwater harvesting is permitted and actively promoted by the Prairielands Groundwater Conservation District, which offers a rebate program based on storage capacity and a larger cost-share grant for public installations.
Private wells & water rights
RestrictedWells are regulated by the Prairielands Groundwater Conservation District (covering Ellis, Hill, Johnson, and Somervell counties) under Texas Water Code Chapter 36, with a permitting system for most wells; small domestic/livestock wells may be exempt, but you should confirm with the district.
Living disconnected from utilities
Generally allowedNo official Ellis County page requires connection to the utility grid in unincorporated areas; the county's development permit and OSSF permit apply regardless of grid status. Individual incorporated towns may set their own rules, not individually confirmed here.
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 5.5 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 4.4 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,540 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 39 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 2,532 (mild)
- Frost-free season
- Mar 19 to Nov 17
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Methodist Charlton Medical Center - 15.9 mi
- Fire station
Red Oak Fire Station - 8.1 mi
- Hardware store
Ace Hardware - 8.1 mi
- Grocery
H-E-B - 0.4 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 75165).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Ellis 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.