Off-grid site report
Clay County, TX
33.8148, -98.1856 · 922 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Clay 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 rulesClay County, TX
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Unclear - verifyTexas counties generally lack home-rule zoning authority over unincorporated land, a state-level limit, and no official Clay County zoning ordinance was found. Any zoning would apply only inside incorporated towns like Henrietta, Byers, or Petrolia, not the county at large.
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyNo official Clay County ordinance on minimum dwelling size, tiny homes, or RV occupancy was found. Texas counties have limited post-2009 state authority to set such standards, but whether Clay County has used it is not confirmed; ask Commissioners Court.
Building permits & codes
Unclear - verifyTexas has no statewide building code and county adoption is optional; no official Clay County building-code adoption page was located. A non-official aggregator suggested no general permit requirement, but that is not confirmed by an official source. source
Septic & composting toilets
Varies locallyTexas requires an OSSF permit statewide for septic installation, repair, or alteration under TCEQ rules (30 TAC Chapter 285). Whether Clay County itself administers permits as a TCEQ authorized agent, versus a TCEQ regional office doing so, is not confirmed. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNo separate TCEQ greywater program page or Clay County greywater rule was found; greywater appears to fall under the same state OSSF/septic rules rather than a distinct policy.
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedRainwater harvesting for domestic use is encouraged at the Texas state level, and no Clay County ordinance restricting it was found.
Private wells & water rights
Varies locallyTexas follows the rule of capture for groundwater outside a Groundwater Conservation District (GCD), a state-level default. Whether any part of Clay County lies within a GCD with well-spacing or permitting rules is not confirmed; check with TWDB or a GCD locator. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo state law or Clay County ordinance requiring connection to electric, water, or sewer utilities was found for unincorporated areas. Any such requirement would more likely come from a municipal ordinance if the property is inside a town limit.
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 5.7 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 4.4 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,589 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 33 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 1 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 3,033 (moderate)
- Frost-free season
- Mar 27 to Nov 9
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Clay County Memorial Hospital - 0.7 mi
- Fire station
Wichita Falls Fire Station 3 - 17.3 mi
- Hardware store
Lowe's - 20.7 mi
- Grocery
United Supermarkets - 18.1 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 76365).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Clay 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.