Off-grid site report
Upshur County, TX
32.7433, -94.9417 · 394 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Upshur 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 rulesUpshur County, TX
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Varies locallyUpshur County itself has no countywide zoning, which is the Texas state baseline for counties; zoning only applies inside the incorporated cities of Gilmer, Big Sandy, Ore City, and Union Grove, each with its own authority. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyNo Upshur County-specific rule on tiny homes, RVs, or minimum dwelling size was confirmed; this inherits the permissive state baseline for unincorporated land, but cities may regulate within their limits.
Building permits & codes
Unclear - verifyThe county's document center lists a Building Permit Application and a Building Permit Ordinance, so some permitting is administered, but the exact scope was not confirmed from Texas-specific sources; call the county's Addressing & Mapping/Building Permits office. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedOSSF (septic) permitting for Upshur County runs through the Northeast Texas Municipal Water District, which TCEQ designated as the regional authorized agent, following state rules under 30 TAC 285. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNo standalone Upshur County greywater ordinance was found; greywater is addressed within the state's OSSF program rather than a separate county rule, so ask NETMWD how they handle it.
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedNo county restriction on rainwater harvesting was found; this follows the Texas state baseline, which generally encourages rainwater collection.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedNo Groundwater Conservation District currently covers Upshur County, so private well drilling follows the state 'rule of capture' with no local pumping limits, though county commissioners have voted to join a proposed new district pending state legislative approval.
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo Upshur County ordinance requiring connection to grid utilities for unincorporated land was found; any such requirement would come from a city government, not the county.
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 5.2 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 3.7 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,452 kWh
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Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 47 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 1 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 2,696 (mild)
- Frost-free season
- Mar 31 to Nov 7
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Longview Regional Medical Center - 19.0 mi
- Fire station
Glenwood VFD - 10.1 mi
- Hardware store
B&S Home Center - 1.1 mi
- Grocery
Brookshire's - 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 75644).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Upshur 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.