Off-grid site report
Lee County, TX
30.1814, -96.9375 · 515 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Lee 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 rulesLee County, TX
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Unclear - verifyNo countywide zoning ordinance was found for unincorporated Lee County; instead, the county requires a development application for construction. Whether the town of Giddings applies its own zoning within city limits or ETJ was not confirmed. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyNo county-specific minimum dwelling size, tiny-home rule, or RV occupancy rule was found; any structure over 100 sq ft triggers a development application per county permitting guidelines. source
Building permits & codes
RestrictedLee County's Permitting/Development Services office requires applications for new construction, remodels, and water development in unincorporated areas; adoption of a specific model building code was not confirmed. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedLee County Sanitation issues OSSF permits for septic systems and holding tanks under the state TCEQ framework; composting toilets are not separately addressed and likely fall under the same review. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNo Lee County-specific greywater ordinance was found; this defers to the state's OSSF/Chapter 285 framework administered through the same septic permitting office. source
Rainwater harvesting
Unclear - verifyNo Lee County ordinance addressing rainwater harvesting was found, and no restriction was identified; this defers to general state practice.
Private wells & water rights
Varies locallyLee County's subdivision regulations require test-well monitoring and water analysis for platted development, and the county may fall within the Lost Pines Groundwater Conservation District, which sets its own rules; confirm exact GCD coverage directly with the district. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo Lee County ordinance requiring connection to electric, water, or sewer utilities was found; any such requirement would likely come from a city ordinance rather than the county.
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 5.4 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 4.0 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,498 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 37 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 1,926 (mild)
- Frost-free season
- Mar 7 to Nov 24
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Seton Smithville Regional Hospital - 17.1 mi
- Fire station
Lincoln Volunteer Fire Department - 7.1 mi
- Hardware store
Ace Hardware - 18.6 mi
- Grocery
Brookshire Brothers - 0.3 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 78942).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Lee 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.