Off-grid site report
Briscoe County, TX
34.4739, -101.3033 · 3,281 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Briscoe 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 rulesBriscoe County, TX
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Unclear - verifyNo Briscoe County zoning ordinance or planning department was found, and Texas counties generally lack general zoning power over unincorporated land. Any zoning would only exist inside Silverton, and no Silverton municipal code was located. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyNo county rule on minimum dwelling size, tiny homes, or RVs was found. Texas counties have only narrow, permissive authority (since 2009) to set such standards, and nothing shows Briscoe County has used it.
Building permits & codes
Unclear - verifyNo building-permit program or adopted building code was found on the county's official site. Texas has no statewide building code and doesn't require counties to adopt one, so it appears Briscoe County may not require a general permit, but confirm with the Commissioners Court. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedSeptic systems and holding tanks (OSSFs) require a permit under state rules from TCEQ; Briscoe County does not appear to be a TCEQ-authorized local agent, so permitting runs through the TCEQ regional office. A state exemption may apply for single-family homes on 10+ acre tracts meeting setback rules. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNo separate Briscoe County or TCEQ greywater ordinance was found; greywater is handled within the same state OSSF framework (30 TAC 285) rather than as its own permit category. source
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedNo Briscoe County restriction on rainwater harvesting was found, and Texas state policy generally encourages it for domestic use.
Private wells & water rights
Varies locallyEastern Briscoe County falls within the Mesquite Groundwater Conservation District and must follow its well-permitting rules; the rest of the county appears to have no confirmed GCD, leaving it under the common-law rule of capture. Statewide, all wells must be drilled by a licensed driller who files a report with TCEQ. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo Briscoe County ordinance requiring connection to electric, water, or sewer utilities was found. Such mandates in Texas usually come from municipalities, and no Silverton code was located to check.
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 6.2 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 5.0 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,752 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 22 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 11 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 4,075 (moderate)
- Frost-free season
- Apr 13 to Oct 27
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
W.J. Mangold Memorial Hospital - 25.2 mi
- Fire station
Silverton Fire Department - 0.1 mi
- Hardware store
- none within range
- Grocery
Dollar General - 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 79257).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Briscoe 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.