Off-grid site report
Lubbock County, TX
33.5504, -101.9370 · 3,288 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Lubbock 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 rulesLubbock County, TX
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Varies locallyLubbock County's own documents confirm unincorporated county land has no zoning regulations, but cities in the county (Lubbock, Slaton, Idalou, Wolfforth, Shallowater, New Deal, Ransom Canyon) zone their own territory and the City of Lubbock reviews plats within five miles of its limits. Confirm whether your parcel is unincorporated, in a city, or in a city's ETJ. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyNo county-specific ordinance on tiny homes, minimum dwelling size, or RV occupancy was found for unincorporated Lubbock County; ask Lubbock County directly. Inside Lubbock city limits, the Unified Development Code sets dwelling standards by zoning district, but that's a municipal rule, not a county one.
Building permits & codes
Varies locallyThere is no evidence of a general county-run building permit or inspection program for unincorporated land, consistent with Texas not requiring counties to adopt a building code; the county does administer TCEQ stormwater construction-discharge rules. Cities like Lubbock run their own separate building permit and zoning process. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedLubbock County issues its own on-site sewage facility (OSSF) permits as a TCEQ Authorized Agent, requiring a site evaluation and system layout, with records kept at the county courthouse. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNo standalone county greywater rule was found; it appears to be folded into the state's OSSF septic design rules (30 TAC 285) rather than treated as its own permit category. Confirm with Lubbock County's OSSF office if you're planning a separate greywater system.
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedNo Lubbock County ordinance restricts rainwater harvesting, and the regional groundwater district's state-mandated management plan lists rainwater harvesting as a conservation goal, suggesting general support rather than restriction.
Private wells & water rights
Varies locallyWells are regulated by the High Plains Underground Water Conservation District, not the county. Wells producing under 17.5 gallons per minute don't need a permit (free registration is optional), while larger wells need a permit and must meet production-rate and spacing rules, plus a fee. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo Lubbock County ordinance was found requiring connection to electric, water, or sewer utilities on unincorporated land. Any mandatory-connection rule would come from a specific city's code, not the county, and none was confirmed.
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 6.3 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 5.1 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,767 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 19 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 8 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 3,380 (moderate)
- Frost-free season
- Apr 4 to Nov 2
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Covenant Children’s Hospital - 2.6 mi
- Fire station
Fire Station No 9 - 1.3 mi
- Hardware store
Lowe's - 0.3 mi
- Grocery
Target - 0.9 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 79414).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Lubbock 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.