Off-grid site report
Val Verde County, TX
29.3966, -100.9042 · 1,040 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Val Verde 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 rulesVal Verde County, TX
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Varies locallyVal Verde County has no general countywide zoning per the county's own site; a special land-use/zoning order applies only near Amistad Reservoir. Del Rio city zoning applies within city limits/ETJ. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyNo official county page addresses tiny home, RV, or minimum dwelling size standards; outside city limits this appears unregulated by the county but is not confirmed. Call the county Health Department to verify.
Building permits & codes
RestrictedThe county Health Department (not a separate building department) requires building and sign permits only within the Amistad Land Use/zoning order area; outside that zone no county permit appears required. Del Rio city does not issue permits for county land outside city/ETJ. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedSeptic systems (OSSFs) are regulated statewide by TCEQ, requiring a permit and approved plan; whether Val Verde County is the delegated local permitting authority versus a TCEQ regional office is not confirmed from official sources. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNo county-specific greywater rule was found; this likely falls under the state's TCEQ OSSF framework by default, but that's not confirmed for Val Verde County specifically.
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedNo county ordinance restricting rainwater harvesting was found; the practice follows the state-encouraged baseline set by the Texas Water Development Board.
Private wells & water rights
Varies locallyVal Verde County has historically had no groundwater conservation district, so groundwater is governed by the unregulated 'rule of capture.' A 2021 bill proposed creating a county groundwater conservation district, but whether it's now active is not confirmed, so check with the county or TWDB. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyThe county Health Department issues Certificates of Compliance required by power companies before connecting electrical service, but this governs connecting TO the grid, not a mandate to connect. No countywide requirement to hook up to utilities was found. source
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 5.8 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 4.7 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,589 kWh
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Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 20 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 0 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 1,506 (mild)
- Frost-free season
- Feb 22 to Dec 4
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Val Verde Regional Medical Center - 1.7 mi
- Fire station
Fire Station 4 - 2.0 mi
- Hardware store
The Home Depot - 0.2 mi
- Grocery
Walmart Supercenter - 0.2 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 78840).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Val Verde 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.