Off-grid site report
Houston County, TX
31.3180, -95.4573 · 384 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Houston 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 rulesHouston County, TX
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Unclear - verifyTexas counties generally lack zoning authority over unincorporated land, and no Houston County zoning ordinance was found on an official source. The City of Crockett has its own zoning code, but that only applies inside city limits.
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyNo Houston County ordinance on minimum dwelling size, tiny homes, or RV occupancy was confirmed. Texas gives counties limited opt-in authority to adopt residential construction standards, and whether Houston County has done so is not confirmed; ask the Commissioners Court.
Building permits & codes
Unclear - verifyNo Houston County building permit office or adopted code was located on an official county source. Confirm directly with the Commissioners Court whether the county exercises its limited state-granted permitting authority. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedOn-site sewage facilities (septic systems, holding tanks) are regulated statewide by TCEQ and require a permit and approved plan before construction. Whether Houston County itself is the local TCEQ-authorized permitting agent, versus TCEQ's regional office, is not confirmed. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNo standalone Houston County or TCEQ greywater ordinance was found; greywater appears to be addressed only within general state OSSF rules rather than as its own program.
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedNo Houston County restriction on rainwater harvesting was found, and Texas as a state generally supports the practice.
Private wells & water rights
Varies locallyMost of Houston County currently has no groundwater conservation district, so the state rule-of-capture baseline applies to private wells. The Commissioners Court adopted a resolution in August 2025 supporting formation of a Houston County GCD, and part of the county may fall under the Neches and Trinity Valleys GCD, though that boundary isn't confirmed. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Generally allowedNo state law or confirmed Houston County ordinance requires connection to grid electric, water, or sewer utilities. Any such requirement would most likely come from a city ordinance like Crockett's, not the county.
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
- 1,447 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 45 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 0 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 2,076 (mild)
- Frost-free season
- Mar 9 to Nov 24
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Palestine Regional Medical Center - 30.4 mi
- Fire station
Lovelady Fire Department - 13.3 mi
- Hardware store
- none within range
- Grocery
Brookshire Brothers - 0.2 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 75835).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Houston 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.