Off-grid site report
Rains County, TX
32.8762, -95.7687 · 466 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Rains 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 rulesRains County, TX
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Generally allowedTexas counties, including Rains County, generally have no zoning authority over unincorporated land, and Rains County is not one of the state's special zoning-exception counties. The county does regulate subdivisions when land is platted. Inside the City of Emory, municipal rules apply instead. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyNo Rains County ordinance on minimum dwelling size or RV-as-residence rules was found; this may mean the permissive state baseline applies, but it's not confirmed by an official county document. Ask the county directly.
Building permits & codes
Varies locallyThe county's own permitting centers on septic and subdivisions, with no confirmed general building code for unincorporated areas, while the City of Emory issues its own building and trade permits within city limits. source
Septic & composting toilets
RestrictedRains County's Environmental Office requires an application, permit, and inspection for any septic (OSSF) construction, alteration, or repair, done by a licensed installer, under stricter-than-baseline rules adopted on top of the state TCEQ framework. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNo standalone Rains County greywater rule was found; greywater appears to be handled as part of the overall OSSF/wastewater permitting rather than a separate track. Confirm with the county Environmental Office.
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedNo Rains County restriction on rainwater harvesting was found; the practice follows the general state-level framework.
Private wells & water rights
Unclear - verifyNo Groundwater Conservation District covering Rains County was confirmed in official sources, which would mean the state's default rule of capture applies, but this should be verified directly against the Texas Water Development Board's district map. source
Living disconnected from utilities
RestrictedRains County requires every habitable structure to connect to either a central sewer system or an approved septic system, so full off-grid wastewater disconnection isn't allowed; no county mandate for electric or public water hookups was found. source
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 5.3 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 4.1 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,491 kWh
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Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 44 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 1 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 2,801 (mild)
- Frost-free season
- Mar 25 to Nov 10
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
UT Health Quitman - 19.7 mi
- Fire station
City of Alba Volunteer Fire Department - 9.7 mi
- Hardware store
Lowe's - 18.8 mi
- Grocery
Brookshire's - 1.2 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 75440).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Rains 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.