Off-grid site report
Ector County, TX
31.8927, -102.3414 · 2,914 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Ector 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 rulesEctor County, TX
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Generally allowedEctor County has no countywide zoning ordinance for unincorporated land per the Planning & Development Department, but land inside Odessa's city limits or ETJ falls under city zoning instead. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Generally allowedThe county requires a Development Structure Permit and Drive Approach Permit for dwellings in unincorporated areas, but does not issue Certificates of Occupancy or apply zoning-based use restrictions. source
Building permits & codes
Generally allowedA Development Structure Permit is required, including a site plan showing structure, septic, and well locations and a floodplain elevation check; solar panel installation is exempt from permitting per the county. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedTexas state law, enforced locally by the Ector County Health Department as TCEQ's agent, requires an OSSF permit for any home not on city sewer, with a licensed site evaluator required for new systems. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNo dedicated county or state page addresses standalone greywater reuse separately from septic; it appears to be handled within OSSF permitting, so confirm with the county Health Department.
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedNo Ector County ordinance restricts rainwater harvesting; it appears to follow the general state baseline that is generally supportive of collection.
Private wells & water rights
Varies locallyEctor County does not appear to sit within a groundwater conservation district (unlike neighboring Pecos County under Middle Pecos GCD), so the state's default rule of capture likely applies, but this is not fully confirmed and new subdivisions require a Groundwater Sufficiency Analysis. source
Living disconnected from utilities
RestrictedOff-grid electric (solar) requires no county permit, but full utility disconnection isn't possible for wastewater since state law mandates a permitted septic system if not on city sewer. source
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 6.4 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 5.4 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,780 kWh
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Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 13 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 1 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 2,326 (mild)
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Odessa Regional Medical Center - 3.1 mi
- Fire station
Fire Station 6 - 0.8 mi
- Hardware store
Lowe's - 0.4 mi
- Grocery
Market Street - 0.4 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 79762).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Ector 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.