Off-grid site report
Mills County, TX
31.4499, -98.5693 · 1,591 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Mills 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 rulesMills County, TX
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Generally allowedMills County has no general zoning authority; only incorporated Texas cities can zone. No county ordinance establishing zoning districts was found. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyNo Mills County ordinance on minimum dwelling size, tiny homes, or RV occupancy was found. Texas counties have optional, limited post-2009 authority to adopt residential standards, but whether Mills County has done so is not confirmed.
Building permits & codes
Unclear - verifyNo adopted Mills County building code could be verified on an official source. Texas has no statewide building code and counties aren't required to adopt one, so confirm directly with the county. source
Septic & composting toilets
RestrictedMills County requires an OSSF permit for every septic system regardless of acreage, per the county's own Environmental Health page, opting out of the state's usual 10-acre exemption under TCEQ rules. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNo standalone Mills County or TCEQ greywater rule was found; greywater appears to fall under the same OSSF/septic permitting framework as the state baseline. source
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedNo Mills County restriction on rainwater harvesting was found, and Texas state policy generally supports the practice.
Private wells & water rights
Unclear - verifyWhether Mills County falls within any Groundwater Conservation District is not confirmed; check the Texas Water Development Board's GCD locator. A state Water Well Report filing is required for any new well regardless. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo Mills County ordinance requiring utility hookups was found; any such rule would more likely come from an incorporated town like Goldthwaite, which was not reviewed here.
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 5.7 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 4.6 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,590 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 31 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 0 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 2,403 (mild)
- Frost-free season
- Mar 21 to Nov 13
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Hendrick Medical Center Brownwood - 29.5 mi
- Fire station
- none within range
- Hardware store
Pecan Valley Hardware - 19.6 mi
- Grocery
Dollar General Market - 0.3 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 76844).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Mills 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.