Off-grid site report
Jefferson County, TX
30.1209, -94.1677 · 30 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Jefferson 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 rulesJefferson County, TX
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Generally allowedJefferson County, like all Texas counties, lacks general zoning authority over unincorporated land; land-use control there is limited to specific state-granted powers like floodplain and building-standards permitting. Incorporated cities (Beaumont, Port Arthur, Nederland, Groves, Port Neches) zone independently within their own limits. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyNo Jefferson County-specific tiny-home or RV occupancy rule was found; unincorporated construction is governed by the county's HB 2833-based building permit program rather than a dwelling-type-specific ordinance. Confirm with the county's Development Permits office. source
Building permits & codes
Generally allowedJefferson County has adopted state HB 2833 authority (Local Government Code Subchapter F, Ch. 233) requiring permits and licensed/certified inspections for residential construction in unincorporated areas, administered by the county's Environmental Control department. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedNew septic (OSSF) systems must be permitted through Jefferson County Environmental Control before construction, following state TCEQ/OSSF construction standards, with a licensed installer and engineer or sanitarian site evaluation required. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNo standalone Jefferson County greywater ordinance was found; Texas has no dedicated statewide greywater program separate from OSSF rules, so this falls into a gray area you should confirm with county Environmental Control.
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedState law directs TCEQ to set recommended health and safety standards encouraging rainwater harvesting for domestic use, and no Jefferson County ordinance restricting it was found. source
Private wells & water rights
Varies locallyTexas's rule of capture governs groundwater absent a groundwater conservation district, and Jefferson County does not appear to lie within an established GCD, so no local well-permitting authority was confirmed. Well drillers are licensed at the state level by TDLR. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo Jefferson County ordinance mandating connection to electric, water, or sewer utilities was found for unincorporated areas, though septic and building-permit compliance still apply regardless.
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 5.1 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 3.8 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,389 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 60 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 0 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 1,526 (mild)
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
CHRISTUS Southeast Texas - Saint Elizabeth - 3.1 mi
- Fire station
Fire Station #8 - 1.0 mi
- Hardware store
Lowe's - 0.2 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 77704).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Jefferson 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.