Off-grid site report
Hale County, TX
34.1947, -101.7509 · 3,402 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Hale 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 rulesHale County, TX
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Unclear - verifyTexas counties generally lack zoning authority over unincorporated land under state law, and no Hale County zoning ordinance was found. Incorporated cities like Plainview or Hale Center may zone within their own limits or ETJ, so check with the specific city hall. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyTexas counties have limited state-granted authority (since 2009) to set residential construction standards outside cities, but no Hale County ordinance on minimum dwelling size, tiny homes, or RV occupancy was confirmed. Ask the Commissioners' Court directly. source
Building permits & codes
Unclear - verifyTexas has no statewide building code, and counties opt in individually. No official Hale County page confirming code adoption or permit requirements was found. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedSeptic systems (OSSFs) are regulated statewide by TCEQ under Texas Health & Safety Code Chapter 366 and 30 TAC 285, administered either by a local Authorized Agent or TCEQ's regional office. Whether Hale County itself is the Authorized Agent was not confirmed, use TCEQ's lookup tool to check your parcel. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNo separate Hale County or TCEQ greywater ordinance was found; greywater appears to be handled within the same OSSF/30 TAC 285 septic framework rather than as its own permit category. source
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedNo Hale County restriction on residential rainwater harvesting was found, and the practice is state-encouraged in Texas, with backflow protections handled under state plumbing rules.
Private wells & water rights
Varies locallyTexas groundwater follows the rule of capture outside a Groundwater Conservation District, and district-specific rules (spacing, permits, metering) inside one. Hale County's applicable GCD was not confirmed, verify with the Texas Water Development Board's GCD locator.
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo state law or confirmed Hale County ordinance requires connecting to electric, water, or sewer utilities in unincorporated areas. Any mandatory-connection rule would likely come from a city ordinance, such as Plainview or Hale Center, rather than the county.
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 6.3 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 4.8 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,765 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 20 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 4,141 (moderate)
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Covenant Health Plainview - 1.3 mi
- Fire station
Plainview Fire Station 3 - 1.4 mi
- Hardware store
Ace Hardware - 0.7 mi
- Grocery
Walmart Supercenter - 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 79072).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Hale 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.