Off-grid site report
Wharton County, TX
29.3125, -96.0982 · 115 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Wharton 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 rulesWharton County, TX
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Varies locallyWharton County has no countywide zoning ordinance for unincorporated land; cities like El Campo, Wharton, and East Bernard zone within their limits and ETJ under their own municipal codes. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyNo county-specific ordinance on minimum dwelling size, tiny homes, or RV occupancy was found; this needs direct confirmation with the Wharton County Permit & Inspection Department. City limits (e.g., Wharton) apply their own building permit process. source
Building permits & codes
Varies locallyNo general countywide building code was confirmed, but the county's Permit & Inspection Department requires drainage/site development permits and floodplain development permits in mapped flood zones. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedWharton County issues OSSF permits as TCEQ's designated local agent under Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 366; installation must be done by a state-licensed installer, with maintenance contracts required for aerobic systems. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNo standalone county greywater ordinance was found; greywater falls under the state OSSF rules (30 TAC Chapter 285) that the county administers as permitting authority. source
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedNo Wharton County ordinance restricts rainwater harvesting; the state (TWDB) encourages it statewide, and nothing at the county level appears to add restrictions. source
Private wells & water rights
Varies locallyGroundwater generally follows Texas's rule of capture unless a groundwater conservation district (GCD) has jurisdiction; whether an active GCD covers Wharton County parcels was not confirmed and should be checked via the state GCD directory. All wells require licensed drillers under TDLR regardless. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo county mandate requiring utility hookups was found for unincorporated land; any such requirement would come from city code inside Wharton, El Campo, or East Bernard limits.
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 5.3 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 4.3 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,481 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 47 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 0 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 1,351 (mild)
- Frost-free season
- Feb 21 to Dec 8
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
El Campo Memorial Hospital - 13.3 mi
- Fire station
Wharton Fire Department - 0.1 mi
- Hardware store
Ace Hardware - 14.6 mi
- Grocery
H-E-B - 1.1 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 77488).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Wharton 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.