Off-grid site report
Cameron County, TX
25.9229, -97.4790 · 33 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Cameron 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 rulesCameron County, TX
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Generally allowedTexas counties, including Cameron County, lack general zoning authority over unincorporated land; development there is instead governed by the county's subdivision and building-permit rules through the Department of Transportation. Land inside incorporated cities like Brownsville follows that city's own zoning instead. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Varies locallyThe county permits manufactured/mobile home placement through its standard building process, but no specific minimum-size or tiny-home ordinance was found on an official county page; RV occupancy rules are not confirmed. source
Building permits & codes
Generally allowedCameron County requires building permits for construction in unincorporated areas, enforced by the Department of Transportation's Building Permits Division, covering structural, mechanical, plumbing, and electrical work. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedSeptic systems (OSSFs) are permitted and inspected by Cameron County Public Health's Environmental Health Division, acting as the state's authorized agent under Texas's OSSF program overseen by TCEQ. Composting toilets aren't addressed separately and likely fall under this same review, not confirmed. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNo standalone Cameron County greywater ordinance was found; greywater likely falls under the same OSSF review handled by the Public Health Environmental Health Division, but this is not confirmed and should be checked directly with that office. source
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedNo Cameron County ordinance restricting residential rainwater harvesting was found; the state generally allows and encourages rainwater collection, with TCEQ backflow rules applying only if tied into a public water supply.
Private wells & water rights
Unclear - verifyCameron County does not appear on the Texas Water Development Board's list of areas covered by a Groundwater Conservation District, meaning the state's default rule of capture likely applies, but this is not confirmed and should be verified with TWDB or a licensed well driller. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyBecause Cameron County has no zoning authority in unincorporated areas, there appears to be no zoning-based mandate to connect to utilities there, but this was not confirmed by an official county source. Inside incorporated cities, local building codes may require utility hookups.
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 5.5 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 4.2 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,523 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 27 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 0 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 554 (mild)
- Frost-free season
- Jan 8 to Dec 30
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Valley Baptist Medical Center - Brownsville - 2.0 mi
- Fire station
Brownsville Fire Department Station 6 - 0.8 mi
- Hardware store
El Clavo Lumber Building Supplies - 0.5 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 78521).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Cameron 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.