Off-grid site report
Jim Wells County, TX
27.7684, -98.0412 · 187 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Jim Wells 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 rulesJim Wells County, TX
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Generally allowedNo Jim Wells County zoning ordinance or planning department was found; Texas counties generally lack home-rule zoning over unincorporated land. Zoning, if any, applies only inside cities like Alice. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyNo county-specific dwelling size, tiny-home, or RV occupancy rule was found; not confirmed, so ask the county directly.
Building permits & codes
Unclear - verifyJim Wells County operates a Safety & Inspection Department, but no countywide residential building code adoption for unincorporated land was found. Inside Alice, the city's own building inspector handles permits. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedJim Wells County's Safety & Inspection Department administers OSSF (septic) permits locally under the statewide TCEQ framework (Health & Safety Code Ch. 366; 30 TAC Ch. 285), requiring a permit and approved plan to build or operate a system. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNo Jim Wells County-specific greywater ordinance was found; likely governed by the same TCEQ OSSF framework the county administers, per the state baseline.
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedNo county ordinance restricts rainwater harvesting; Texas state policy through TWDB generally encourages it. source
Private wells & water rights
Unclear - verifyIt's not confirmed whether Jim Wells County lies within a Groundwater Conservation District. Absent confirmation, the state default rule of capture applies (no state permit for domestic wells, but the driller must file a State Well Report). Confirm GCD status with TCEQ or TWDB. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo Jim Wells County ordinance requiring utility hookup for occupancy in unincorporated areas was found; any such rule would likely come from a city ordinance inside Alice, not the county.
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 5.4 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 4.3 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,502 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 28 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 901 (mild)
- Frost-free season
- Jan 31 to Dec 18
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
CHRISTUS Spohn Hospital Alice - 0.3 mi
- Fire station
Alice Fire Department - 2.1 mi
- Hardware store
Sutherlands - 1.5 mi
- Grocery
Walmart Supercenter - 0.2 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 78333).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Jim Wells 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.