Off-grid site report
Knox County, TX
33.5836, -99.7929 · 1,480 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Knox 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 rulesKnox County, TX
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Unclear - verifyNo Knox County planning or zoning department, ordinance, or map was found. Texas counties generally lack broad zoning authority over unincorporated land, so this likely defaults to unregulated status outside incorporated towns, but that's not confirmed and should be checked with the Knox County Courthouse. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyNo Knox County ordinance on minimum dwelling size, tiny homes, or RV occupancy was found. Any such rule would most likely exist only within an incorporated town's own code, none of which were located online.
Building permits & codes
Unclear - verifyNo Knox County building permit office, adopted building code, or fee schedule was found. Texas has no statewide building code, so counties choose individually whether to adopt one; confirm directly with the Knox County Judge/Commissioners Court. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedSeptic (OSSF) systems are regulated statewide by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality under 30 TAC Chapter 285. Knox County does not appear on lists of counties with Authorized Agent status, so TCEQ's regional office is likely the direct permitting authority, but confirm by phone. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNo standalone Knox County or TCEQ greywater-specific program was found; greywater is addressed within the state's OSSF/septic permitting framework rather than as its own permit category.
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedNo Knox County ordinance restricts rainwater harvesting, and Texas state policy generally encourages it for domestic use.
Private wells & water rights
Varies locallyNo confirmed Groundwater Conservation District covering Knox County was found; absent one, Texas's default rule of capture governs groundwater withdrawal. Check the Texas Water Development Board's GCD map to confirm.
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo Knox County ordinance requiring connection to electric, water, or sewer utilities was found. Any mandatory-connection rule would most likely exist only within an incorporated town's own municipal code.
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 5.9 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 4.8 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,659 kWh
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Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 27 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 2 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 3,111 (moderate)
- Frost-free season
- Mar 28 to Nov 9
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Knox County Hospital - 11.8 mi
- Fire station
Knox City Fire Department - 11.6 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 79505).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Knox 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.