Off-grid site report
Matagorda County, TX
28.9828, -95.9696 · 62 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Matagorda 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 rulesMatagorda County, TX
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Varies locallyMatagorda County has no countywide zoning ordinance and, like all Texas counties, lacks general zoning power; incorporated cities such as Bay City set their own zoning that overrides county baseline once you're inside city limits. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyNo Matagorda County-specific ordinance on tiny homes, manufactured homes, or RV occupancy was found for unincorporated land; any such rule would likely come from a city code instead. Confirm directly with the county or relevant city. source
Building permits & codes
RestrictedMatagorda County has adopted building regulations and requires a floodplain development permit tied to its Flood Insurance Study, administered through the county Building Department. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedSeptic systems are permitted and regulated under a county OSSF order in force since 2006, administered by the Matagorda County Environmental Health Department per TCEQ Chapters 285 and 366. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNo standalone county greywater ordinance was found; greywater is presumably covered under the same OSSF/TCEQ framework enforced by the county Environmental Health Department. Ask that office to confirm.
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedNo Matagorda County ordinance restricts rainwater harvesting, so the generally permissive Texas state baseline applies by default.
Private wells & water rights
Varies locallyWells in Matagorda County fall under the Coastal Plains Groundwater Conservation District, which manages the local Gulf Coast Aquifer; exempt domestic wells are usually excused from production permitting but registration rules should be verified directly with the district. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo Matagorda County ordinance requiring utility hookups on unincorporated land was found; any mandatory-connection rule would be set by a specific city, not the county.
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 5.3 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 3.8 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,483 kWh
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Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 49 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 0 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 1,162 (mild)
- Frost-free season
- Feb 10 to Dec 18
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Matagorda Regional Medical Center - 1.4 mi
- Fire station
Bay City Fire Department - 0.2 mi
- Hardware store
G&S Auto - 16.6 mi
- Grocery
H-E-B - 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 77404).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Matagorda 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.