Off-grid site report
Starr County, TX
26.3798, -98.8204 · 194 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Starr 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 rulesStarr County, TX
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Unclear - verifyTexas counties generally lack broad zoning power over unincorporated land, and no official Starr County zoning or land-use page was found to confirm any local order. Not confirmed either way; check with Starr County Commissioners Court.
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyTexas has no statewide minimum house size, and counties only have narrow, permissive authority (since 2009) to regulate residential construction in unincorporated areas. No Starr County-specific standards order was found.
Building permits & codes
Unclear - verifyTexas has no statewide building code, and no official Starr County page confirms whether the county has adopted one for unincorporated areas. Ask the county courthouse directly. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedThe Texas Commission on Environmental Quality requires a permit for all on-site sewage facilities, including septic and holding tanks; new lots without public water generally need at least one acre for an individual system. Whether Starr County or the TCEQ regional office directly administers permits locally is not confirmed. source
Greywater reuse
Generally allowedTCEQ maintains statewide guidance supporting beneficial reuse of greywater; no Starr County ordinance was found restricting it, so the state's permissive approach applies. source
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedRainwater harvesting is encouraged under Texas state policy, and no Starr County restriction was found in this research.
Private wells & water rights
Varies locallyStarr County is covered by its own groundwater conservation district, the Starr County Drainage and Groundwater Conservation District, which can set local well permitting and production rules that differ from the standard rule-of-capture approach elsewhere in Texas. Current rules should be confirmed directly with the district. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Generally allowedNo Texas state law requires connection to electric, water, or sewer utilities, and no Starr County ordinance addressing off-grid living was found; a hookup mandate, if any, would more likely come from a municipality rather than the county.
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 5.8 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 4.5 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,582 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 23 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 0 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 834 (mild)
- Frost-free season
- Jan 30 to Dec 19
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Starr County Memorial Hospital - 2.4 mi
- Fire station
- none within range
- Hardware store
Border Hardware - 17.5 mi
- Grocery
H-E-B plus! - 1.5 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 78582).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Starr 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.