Off-grid site report
Zapata County, TX
26.9113, -99.2693 · 371 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Zapata 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 rulesZapata County, TX
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Varies locallyTexas law lets Zapata County regulate land within 25,000 feet of Falcon Lake, the Rio Grande, and connecting tributaries, and the county has a published Falcon Lake zoning ordinance for that area. Outside that buffer, no general county zoning was confirmed, consistent with the usual lack of county zoning power in Texas. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyNo official Zapata County page spelling out dwelling size, tiny-home, or RV occupancy rules outside the Falcon Lake overlay was found; ask the County Courthouse directly. source
Building permits & codes
Unclear - verifyNo confirmed evidence Zapata County has adopted a general building code; many rural Texas counties lack this authority, but it wasn't directly confirmed for Zapata. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedSeptic (OSSF) systems are regulated statewide by TCEQ, and Texas counties typically act as authorized agents for permitting; a regional installer lists Zapata as within its OSSF service area, suggesting local permitting exists. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNo standalone Zapata or TCEQ greywater policy was found; greywater is addressed within the same state OSSF/septic framework rather than as its own program. source
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedNo Zapata County restriction on rainwater harvesting was found, and the state, via the Texas Water Development Board, encourages it. source
Private wells & water rights
Varies locallyIt's not confirmed whether an active groundwater conservation district with permitting authority covers Zapata County; the local Soil and Water Conservation District is conservation-focused, not regulatory, so Texas's default rule of capture likely applies pending confirmation from TWDB. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo Zapata County ordinance requiring connection to electric, water, or sewer utilities was found; any such rule would more likely come from the City of Zapata rather than the county.
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 5.8 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 4.8 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,578 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 20 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 869 (mild)
- Frost-free season
- Jan 27 to Dec 23
How far help isstraight-line
Service data unavailable for this spot.
Plan this spot
These open with this location's real numbers already filled in (ZIP 78076).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Zapata 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.