Off-grid site report
Madison County, TX
30.9603, -95.9157 · 312 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Madison 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 rulesMadison County, TX
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Unclear - verifyNo countywide zoning ordinance was found on Madison County's official site. Texas counties generally lack zoning authority over unincorporated land unless the legislature grants it, so this likely reflects the state default rather than a gap in publishing. Zoning would only apply inside an incorporated town like Madisonville. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyNo Madison County rule on minimum dwelling size, tiny homes, or RV occupancy was found. The county does administer a driveway access permit tied to structures with vehicle access, but that doesn't regulate dwelling type itself; confirm with the county. source
Building permits & codes
Unclear - verifyThe county's permits page lists only a driveway access permit, no general building or electrical permit program is evidenced. Texas has no statewide building code, so whether one applies here depends on county adoption, which was not confirmed. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedSeptic systems (OSSFs) are permitted and regulated under Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 366 and 30 TAC Chapter 285. Whether Madison County or the TCEQ regional office issues the permit locally was not confirmed, so check TCEQ's permitting-authority lookup or ask the county. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNo Madison County-specific greywater ordinance was found; greywater appears to be handled under the same state OSSF rules (30 TAC 285) rather than as its own permit category. source
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedNo Madison County ordinance restricting rainwater harvesting was found, so the state's generally permissive, harvesting-encouraged baseline applies with no confirmed local addition.
Private wells & water rights
Varies locallyWell drilling and groundwater production in Madison County are governed by the Mid-East Texas Groundwater Conservation District, a state-created special district whose directors are appointed by the Madison County Commissioners Court, not by county government directly. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo Madison County ordinance requiring connection to electric, water, or sewer utilities was found. Any such requirement is more likely to come from an incorporated town like Madisonville than from the unincorporated county. source
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 5.2 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 4.0 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,436 kWh
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Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 45 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 0 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 1,922 (mild)
- Frost-free season
- Mar 17 to Nov 14
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
CHI Saint Joseph Health Madison Hospital - 1.3 mi
- Fire station
Madisonville Fire Department - 1.2 mi
- Hardware store
- none within range
- Grocery
Brookshire Brothers - 0.7 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 77864).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Madison 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.