Off-grid site report
Smith County, TX
32.3733, -95.2785 · 522 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Smith 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 rulesSmith County, TX
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Unclear - verifySmith County has no general zoning ordinance; it only has Subdivision Regulations governing platting, roads, and drainage for new land divisions. This reflects the Texas state baseline that counties lack general zoning power.
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyNo standalone Smith County ordinance was found regulating tiny homes or RVs on individual unplatted rural tracts; subdivision rules for rental communities don't clearly apply. Confirm with the Smith County Planning Office.
Building permits & codes
Unclear - verifyThe Smith County Planning Office reportedly handles building and electrical permits outside city limits, but no published countywide building code for stand-alone rural homes was confirmed. Call the Planning Office directly before building. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedSmith County administers OSSF permitting under state TCEQ rules, requiring a half-acre minimum lot (unless platted before 1989); Texas's state 10-acre rule can exempt larger tracts from permitting. A licensed installer and registered sanitarian must evaluate the site. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNo standalone Smith County greywater ordinance was found; greywater appears to be handled under the same state TCEQ OSSF framework as septic.
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedNo Smith County ordinance restricting rainwater harvesting was found, so it inherits the generally permissive Texas state baseline.
Private wells & water rights
Varies locallyTexas follows the rule of capture for groundwater, but whether Smith County parcels fall under the Neches and Trinity Valleys Groundwater Conservation District appears unsettled; check the Texas Water Development Board's GCD index for your specific tract. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo Smith County ordinance was found requiring connection to electric, water, or sewer utilities in unincorporated areas; such mandates typically come from cities, not counties, under Texas law.
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 5.3 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 4.2 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,476 kWh
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Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 47 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 1 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 2,142 (mild)
- Frost-free season
- Mar 14 to Nov 19
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital - Tyler - 2.2 mi
- Fire station
Tyler Fire Department - 3.2 mi
- Hardware store
Mitchell Welding Supply - 0.5 mi
- Grocery
Super One Foods - 1.1 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 75711).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Smith 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.