Off-grid site report
Newton County, TX
30.8491, -93.7574 · 210 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Newton 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 rulesNewton County, TX
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Unclear - verifyTexas counties generally lack common-law zoning power unless specifically granted, and no Newton County zoning ordinance was found on the county's official site. Not confirmed whether any narrower land-use rule, like subdivision platting, exists. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyTexas counties have had optional authority since 2009 to adopt residential/manufactured-home standards for unincorporated areas, but it's not confirmed whether Newton County has done so. source
Building permits & codes
Unclear - verifyTexas has no statewide building code and counties may optionally adopt one; no evidence was found that Newton County requires building permits outside its incorporated towns. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedSeptic (OSSF) systems are regulated statewide under Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 366 and 30 TAC Chapter 285, administered through TCEQ; a permit is required. It's not confirmed whether Newton County itself is the local permitting authority or whether the TCEQ regional office handles it. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNo standalone Newton County or TCEQ greywater-specific rule was found; greywater is generally folded into the statewide OSSF framework rather than a separate permit category. source
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedNo Newton County restriction was found, and Texas state policy generally encourages rainwater harvesting statewide.
Private wells & water rights
Unclear - verifyIt's not confirmed whether Newton County lies within a Groundwater Conservation District; outside one, Texas's default rule of capture governs groundwater use.
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo state law requires utility hookup, and no Newton County ordinance addressing off-grid disconnection was found; any such rule would likely come from an incorporated town within the county, not the county itself.
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 5.1 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 3.7 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,355 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 56 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 0 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 1,927 (mild)
- Frost-free season
- Mar 9 to Nov 24
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
CHRISTUS Southeast Texas - Jasper Memorial - 15.5 mi
- Fire station
Tri - Community Volunteer Fire Department - 18.4 mi
- Hardware store
Orange County Building Materials - 14.3 mi
- Grocery
Brookshire Brothers - 0.7 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 75966).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Newton 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.