Off-grid site report
Fort Bend County, TX
29.5591, -95.7612 · 108 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Fort Bend 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 rulesFort Bend County, TX
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Generally allowedFort Bend County has not adopted zoning ordinances and issues no Certificates of Occupancy in unincorporated areas; incorporated cities within the county do zone their own limits and ETJ. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Varies locallyNo general residential building code exists countywide, but a Residential Development Permit from the county Engineering Department is required for any new structure or addition of 400 square feet or more; manufactured home and RV rental communities have separate county-adopted standards. source
Building permits & codes
Varies locallyUnincorporated Fort Bend County has no comprehensive residential building code, but permits are required for floodplain work and for enclosed structures or slabs of 400 square feet or larger; the county also adopted the 2021 International Fire Code, enforced by the Fire Marshal, mainly for commercial, public, and multi-family buildings. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedSeptic (OSSF) systems are permitted through Fort Bend County Environmental Health under state law (Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 366, TCEQ), with a county-added minimum of one acre for a well-and-septic setup; composting toilets are not separately addressed, so confirm treatment with the county. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNo standalone Fort Bend County greywater ordinance was found; it appears to be handled within the same OSSF/aerobic-system permitting process. Confirm specifics with Fort Bend County Environmental Health.
Rainwater harvesting
Unclear - verifyNo Fort Bend County ordinance specifically addressing rainwater harvesting was found, meaning it likely inherits the general state-permitted baseline, but this is not confirmed as an official county position. Check with Fort Bend County Environmental Health if in doubt.
Private wells & water rights
RestrictedMost wells in Fort Bend County require permitting through the Fort Bend Subsidence District, with a narrow exemption for small single-family wells (5-inch casing or less) drilled before 2015; properties in some sub-areas must first get approval from a regional water authority like the North Fort Bend Water Authority before FBSD will permit the well.
Living disconnected from utilities
Generally allowedBecause the county has no zoning or occupancy code, there is no county-level rule forcing a rural residence to connect to utilities; any such requirement would come from a subdivision's deed restrictions or a Municipal Utility District, not the county itself. source
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 5.1 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 3.9 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,431 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 49 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 1,421 (mild)
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Westpark Springs - 9.3 mi
- Fire station
Rosenberg Fire Department Station 1 - 2.7 mi
- Hardware store
Lowe's - 8.1 mi
- Grocery
Whole Foods Market - 8.8 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 77469).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Fort Bend 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.