Off-grid site report
Cottle County, TX
34.0127, -100.3017 · 1,867 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Cottle 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 rulesCottle County, TX
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Unclear - verifyNo official Cottle County zoning ordinance or planning office was found. Texas counties generally lack zoning authority over unincorporated land unless specifically adopted, and nothing indicates Cottle County has done so.
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyNo county ordinance on minimum dwelling size, tiny homes, or RV living was found. This likely inherits the narrow Texas state baseline for unincorporated land, but is not confirmed by an official county source.
Building permits & codes
Unclear - verifyNo evidence of a Cottle County building permit office or adopted building code for unincorporated areas. Texas has no statewide building code, so this is a local option counties may or may not exercise; confirm with the Commissioners Court. source
Septic & composting toilets
Varies locallyStatewide, TCEQ requires a permit for any on-site sewage facility (OSSF). Cottle County does not appear to be a TCEQ Authorized Agent county, so permitting likely runs through a TCEQ regional office rather than a county health department, though this is not confirmed on an official county page. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNo standalone greywater program exists; Texas addresses greywater within OSSF rules under 30 TAC Chapter 285, and no Cottle County-specific supplement was found.
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedNo Cottle County ordinance restricts rainwater harvesting, and Texas generally supports it for domestic use at the state level.
Private wells & water rights
Unclear - verifyOutside a Groundwater Conservation District, Texas's common-law rule of capture governs private wells. Whether Cottle County falls within a GCD (such as Mesquite GCD) was not confirmed from an official source; check with the Texas Water Development Board. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Generally allowedNo state or Cottle County rule was found requiring hookup to electric, water, or sewer utilities in unincorporated areas. Any such requirement would more likely come from a municipal ordinance in the Town of Paducah, not researched here.
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 6.0 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 4.7 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,682 kWh
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Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 25 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 5 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 3,021 (moderate)
- Frost-free season
- Mar 27 to Nov 8
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Childress Regional Medical Center - 29.8 mi
- Fire station
- none within range
- 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 79248).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Cottle 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.