Off-grid site report
Panola County, TX
32.1571, -94.3380 · 331 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Panola 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 rulesPanola County, TX
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Unclear - verifyNo official Panola County zoning ordinance or map was found; Texas counties generally lack zoning power outside cities, so unincorporated land is likely unzoned, but this isn't confirmed by a county document. Cities like Carthage, Beckville, and Gary set their own rules inside their limits.
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyNo Panola County ordinance on minimum dwelling size, tiny homes, or long-term RV occupancy in unincorporated areas was located; Texas gives counties limited permissive authority here but whether Panola County used it is not confirmed.
Building permits & codes
Unclear - verifyNo official county building-permit ordinance or building department page was found for unincorporated Panola County; permitting appears to exist only at the city level (Carthage, Gary, Beckville), unconfirmed for the county itself. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedTCEQ regulates on-site sewage facilities statewide and requires a permit and approved plan to construct or operate one; whether Panola County is a TCEQ-authorized local permitting agent or permits flow through the TCEQ regional office is not confirmed. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyTexas handles greywater within its OSSF/septic rules (30 TAC Chapter 285) rather than as a separate permit; no standalone TCEQ greywater page or Panola County variance was found.
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedRainwater harvesting for domestic use is encouraged at the Texas state level, and no Panola County ordinance restricting it was found.
Private wells & water rights
RestrictedThe Panola County Groundwater Conservation District, a state-created political subdivision under Texas Water Code Chapter 36, exempts domestic-use wells from metering but requires drilling and operating permits with public hearings for non-domestic wells. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo Panola County or Texas state law requiring connection to electric, water, or sewer utilities in unincorporated areas was found; any mandate would come from a city ordinance if inside city limits.
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 5.2 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 3.7 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,398 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 51 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 1 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 2,313 (mild)
- Frost-free season
- Mar 14 to Nov 19
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
UT Health - Carthage - 0.8 mi
- Fire station
Carthage Fire Department - 0.3 mi
- Hardware store
Ace Hardware - 1.3 mi
- Grocery
Brookshire Brothers - 0.4 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 75633).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Panola 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.