Off-grid site report
San Patricio County, TX
27.8544, -97.2220 · 13 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for San Patricio 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 rulesSan Patricio County, TX
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Varies locallySan Patricio County has no general zoning ordinance, consistent with the Texas baseline limiting county zoning power, but its Subdivision Rules regulate land division, and land inside a city's ETJ (like Sinton or Portland) may fall under that city's platting authority. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyNo official county source confirms a minimum dwelling size or tiny-home/RV occupancy standard; the subdivision rules only address manufactured-home rental communities. Confirm directly with the county. source
Building permits & codes
Unclear - verifyThe county Permitting Office issues floodplain development and subdivision/development permits, but a general residential building-code requirement for unincorporated land was not confirmed. Ask the Permitting Technician. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedOSSF (septic) systems require a TCEQ-framework permit under 30 TAC Chapter 285, administered locally by the county's Environmental Health Department; a narrow state exemption exists for tracts of 10+ acres meeting specific criteria, but it only waives the permit, not construction standards. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNo standalone county or state greywater ordinance was found; it appears to be folded into the general OSSF permitting framework rather than treated separately. Confirm with the county's Environmental Health Department. source
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedTexas encourages rainwater harvesting at the state level, and no county-specific restriction was found for San Patricio County.
Private wells & water rights
RestrictedSan Patricio County lies within the San Patricio County Groundwater Conservation District, which requires registration of all wells (even 'exempt' ones under 25,000 gallons/day) and permits, capped at five years, for larger wells, plus prohibits waste and pollution of groundwater. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo county ordinance mandating utility hookups for unincorporated land was found; such mandates typically come from city codes instead. Check the relevant city's code if you're inside its limits.
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 5.5 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 3.9 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,521 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 35 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 0 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 819 (mild)
- Frost-free season
- Jan 13 to Dec 31
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
CHRISTUS Spohn Hospital Corpus Christi - Shoreline - 11.8 mi
- Fire station
Ingleside Fire Department - 1.0 mi
- Hardware store
Lowe's - 5.4 mi
- Grocery
H-E-B - 2.1 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 78362).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in San Patricio 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.