Off-grid site report
Goliad County, TX
28.6689, -97.3911 · 200 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Goliad 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 rulesGoliad County, TX
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Varies locallyGoliad County itself has no general zoning power over unincorporated land, only subdivision regulations covering platting, roads, drainage, and a strict no-development rule in floodways, per the county's Subdivision Regulations. The City of Goliad, by contrast, has its own zoning ordinance that applies only inside city limits. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Varies locallyI found no county rule setting a minimum home size or construction standard for unincorporated land, so that side looks open, but this isn't fully confirmed. Inside the City of Goliad, RV living is capped at 10 days and manufactured homes are restricted to zoned sections, per city rules.
Building permits & codes
Varies locallyNo general building code was found for unincorporated Goliad County, so construction standards there aren't confirmed. The City of Goliad has adopted the International Building Code (2012 edition per the code, with staff referencing 2006 codes in practice), which applies only within city limits. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedSeptic systems are permitted countywide through Goliad County Environmental Services, which administers OSSF permitting under the state's TCEQ framework. An Authorization to Construct is issued after county review, and an inspection is required before the system is covered; the county also lets homeowners self-maintain aerobic systems after the initial contract with a licensed sanitarian ends. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyI didn't find a standalone Goliad County greywater ordinance; it appears greywater is folded into the state's OSSF rules (30 TAC 285) rather than treated separately. If you're planning a dedicated greywater system, confirm the approach with Goliad County Environmental Services.
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedNo Goliad County ordinance restricts rainwater harvesting on unincorporated land. If your system ever ties into a public water supply within the City of Goliad, the city requires TCEQ backflow-prevention testing paperwork.
Private wells & water rights
RestrictedGoliad County has its own Groundwater Conservation District (GCGCD), which is not the case in every rural Texas county, and it requires a drilling permit or registration for new wells on top of the state's rule-of-capture baseline. The district also sets construction rules, such as sanitary well seals and steel sleeve depths for wells in flood-prone areas. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Varies locallyI found no county ordinance forcing unincorporated properties to hook up to utilities, so living off-grid there looks feasible pending confirmation. Inside the City of Goliad, the 10-day limit on RV occupancy effectively discourages long-term off-grid RV living within city limits, but that's a city rule, not a county one.
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 5.2 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 4.1 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,443 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 37 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 0 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 1,259 (mild)
- Frost-free season
- Mar 2 to Nov 26
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
DeTar Hospital Navarro - 25.7 mi
- Fire station
Goliad Fire Department - 0.2 mi
- Hardware store
- none within range
- Grocery
- none within range
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 77963).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Goliad 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.