Off-grid site report
Guadalupe County, TX
29.5648, -97.9429 · 528 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Guadalupe 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 rulesGuadalupe County, TX
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Unclear - verifyGuadalupe County has not adopted general zoning for unincorporated areas, as Texas counties lack that authority; land use is instead shaped by the county's Subdivision Regulations covering platting, roads, and utilities. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyNo countywide minimum dwelling size or tiny-home ordinance was confirmed; the Subdivision Regulations require septic or sewer service and completed road construction before any home or structure goes on a platted lot. source
Building permits & codes
Unclear - verifyThe county has adopted a Fire Code for unincorporated areas, but I could not confirm from official sources whether a full general/residential building code applies countywide outside city limits; confirm with the county directly. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedGuadalupe County's Environmental Health Department administers OSSF permits under state TCEQ Chapter 285 rules plus a county Order requiring a 1-acre minimum lot size (with exceptions for pre-1997 smaller lots); homeowners may self-install on their own single-family property. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNo standalone Guadalupe County greywater ordinance was found; it appears to be handled within standard state OSSF/TCEQ Chapter 285 permitting rather than as a distinct county rule.
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedNo county ordinance restricts rainwater harvesting, and the Guadalupe County Groundwater Conservation District's management plan lists it as an encouraged conservation practice, in line with the state baseline. source
Private wells & water rights
RestrictedThe Guadalupe County Groundwater Conservation District requires an operating permit and proof of water rights before producing groundwater, with rules varying by aquifer; parts of the county may instead fall under the separate Edwards Aquifer Authority. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Varies locallyNo direct mandate to connect to utilities was found, but a home cannot be legally occupied without a functioning OSSF/sewer per subdivision rules, and flood zone structures need a Floodplain Development Permit and elevation certificates before occupancy. source
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 5.4 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 4.2 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,503 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 35 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 1,558 (mild)
- Frost-free season
- Mar 2 to Nov 30
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Guadalupe Regional Medical Center - 0.3 mi
- Fire station
Fire Station No. 3 - 1.3 mi
- Hardware store
The Home Depot - 2.7 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 78155).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Guadalupe 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.