Off-grid site report
Erath County, TX
32.2053, -98.2382 · 1,358 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Erath 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 rulesErath County, TX
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Varies locallyErath County has no general countywide zoning ordinance (typical for Texas counties), but its Land Development Department administers subdivision platting, floodplain rules, and manufactured home community regulations, and handles zoning permit/certificate of occupancy questions. Cities like Stephenville and Dublin have their own municipal zoning within city limits/ETJ, not covered here. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyNo specific county rule on minimum dwelling size, tiny homes, or long-term RV occupancy was found; manufactured home communities are covered by the county's Manufactured Home Community Regulations. Confirm details with Land Development. source
Building permits & codes
Unclear - verifyNo dedicated county building code page separate from the zoning-permit/certificate-of-occupancy function was found; whether Erath County has adopted a residential building code is not confirmed. Ask Land Development directly. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedErath County's Environmental Health Department is the local permitting authority for on-site sewage facilities (OSSFs), operating under statewide TCEQ rules (30 TAC Chapter 285). Composting toilets are not separately addressed on the county page. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNo standalone county or state greywater permit page was found; greywater in Texas is generally folded into OSSF rules rather than handled separately. Ask Environmental Health for specifics.
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedNo county ordinance restricting rainwater harvesting was found; this appears to inherit the state baseline, which generally encourages the practice, with backflow rules applying only if connected to a public water system.
Private wells & water rights
RestrictedErath County lies within the Middle Trinity Groundwater Conservation District, which registers and permits water wells under Texas Water Code Chapter 36, rather than leaving wells to unrestricted rule of capture. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo county ordinance was found mandating utility hookups for unincorporated land; any such requirement would come from a city like Stephenville or Dublin, not the county, and wasn't researched here.
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 5.7 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 4.1 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,596 kWh
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Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 32 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 2 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 2,717 (mild)
- Frost-free season
- Mar 27 to Nov 11
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Stephenville - 2.3 mi
- Fire station
Bluff Dale Volunteer Fire Department - 16.2 mi
- Hardware store
McCoy's - 0.6 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 76401).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Erath 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.