Off-grid site report
Oldham County, TX
35.5344, -102.2665 · 3,291 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Oldham 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 rulesOldham County, TX
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Unclear - verifyA possible Oldham County zoning ordinance/comprehensive plan document surfaced online but wasn't hosted on the county's own domain, so I can't confirm it's authentic. Texas counties in general have only narrow statutory zoning power (real zoning is mostly a city power), so status here is unconfirmed; ask the county directly.
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyNo official Oldham County page addresses minimum dwelling size, tiny homes, or RV occupancy. Absent a confirmed local ordinance, the state baseline applies: Texas counties only gained limited, permissive authority since 2009 to set residential construction standards in unincorporated areas.
Building permits & codes
Unclear - verifyNo official co.oldham.tx.us page on a building permit process or adopted code was found. Texas has no statewide building code, and whether this county has adopted one is not confirmed; check with the county. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedSeptic (OSSF) systems are permitted statewide under Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 366 and 30 TAC Chapter 285, administered by TCEQ; a permit is required before construction or operation. It's not confirmed whether Oldham County itself is the local permitting authority or whether TCEQ's regional office handles it directly, so confirm with TCEQ or the county. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNo standalone Oldham County or TCEQ greywater rule was found; greywater appears to fall under the same OSSF/30 TAC Chapter 285 framework as septic, per TCEQ, with no confirmed county-specific variation. source
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedNo Oldham County ordinance restricting rainwater harvesting was found, and Texas state policy generally encourages it. Treat this as the state baseline rather than a county-specific confirmation.
Private wells & water rights
Varies locallyTexas defaults to the 'rule of capture' for groundwater unless a Groundwater Conservation District has jurisdiction and sets its own permitting or spacing rules. Whether a GCD covers Oldham County was not confirmed in this research.
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo Oldham County ordinance requiring hookup to electric, water, or sewer utilities was found. Texas counties generally lack authority to mandate utility connections outside city limits, so any such rule would more likely come from the town of Vega, not the county.
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 6.2 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 4.8 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,734 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 19 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 12 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 4,188 (moderate)
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Moore County Memorial Hospital - 28.2 mi
- Fire station
Channing Fire/Rescue - 11.0 mi
- Hardware store
- none within range
- Grocery
Taylor's Venture Market - 21.8 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 79010).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Oldham 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.