Off-grid site report
Childress County, TX
34.4365, -100.2331 · 1,959 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Childress 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 rulesChildress County, TX
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Generally allowedTexas counties, including Childress County, lack general zoning authority over unincorporated land under state law. No county zoning ordinance was found on the county's official site. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyNo Childress County ordinance on dwelling size, tiny homes, or RV occupancy was found; the county's regulatory reach seems limited to floodplain and septic matters. Ask the County Judge/Commissioners Court office to confirm.
Building permits & codes
Unclear - verifyNo comprehensive countywide building-permit program was confirmed; the county's role appears limited to floodplain regulation under NFIP participation. Inside Childress city limits, the City of Childress issues its own permits. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedOSSF (septic) systems are regulated statewide by TCEQ under 30 TAC 285, with a permit generally required and a narrow 10-acre exemption available. Childress County does not appear to run its own authorized-agent program, so TCEQ Region 1 in Amarillo is likely the permitting authority, though this isn't confirmed on an official county page. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNo standalone greywater rule was found for Childress County or TCEQ; greywater appears to fall under the general OSSF/septic framework rather than its own program.
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedNo Childress County ordinance restricts rainwater harvesting; the state-level TWDB framework, which encourages it, appears to be the operative baseline.
Private wells & water rights
Varies locallyMost of Childress County has no groundwater conservation district, so the state's default rule of capture applies. The northern part of the county falls inside the Mesquite Groundwater Conservation District, which has its own well registration and spacing rules. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo Childress County ordinance requiring connection to electric, water, or sewer utilities on unincorporated land was found; any such rule would likely be a City of Childress matter limited to city limits.
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 5.9 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 4.8 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,660 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 26 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 4 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 3,398 (moderate)
- Frost-free season
- Apr 1 to Nov 7
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Childress Regional Medical Center - 0.4 mi
- Fire station
Childress Fire Department - 1.8 mi
- Hardware store
Childress Lumber - 0.4 mi
- Grocery
Walmart Supercenter - 0.1 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 79201).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Childress 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.