Off-grid site report
Bowie County, TX
33.4229, -94.0972 · 322 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Bowie 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 rulesBowie County, TX
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Unclear - verifyTexas counties generally lack broad zoning power, and no Bowie County zoning ordinance was found on the county's official site. Land inside incorporated cities like Texarkana follows that city's own zoning instead. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyNo Bowie County rule on minimum dwelling size, tiny homes, or RV occupancy was confirmed. Texas allows counties limited authority to set residential construction standards in unincorporated areas, but it's not confirmed whether Bowie County has adopted any.
Building permits & codes
Unclear - verifyNo confirmed county-adopted building code for unincorporated Bowie County; incorporated cities within the county run their own separate building departments. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedSeptic systems (OSSFs) are regulated statewide by TCEQ, requiring a permit to construct, alter, or operate in most cases; Bowie County is not confirmed as a TCEQ-authorized local agent, so the TCEQ regional office likely handles permitting. A statewide exemption exists for single-family homes on 10+ acres meeting specific siting conditions. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNo separate greywater ordinance exists at the county or state level found in research; greywater is handled within the general TCEQ OSSF/septic framework rather than as its own permit category. source
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedNo Bowie County restriction was found, and Texas state policy generally encourages rainwater harvesting for domestic use.
Private wells & water rights
Varies locallyWhether Bowie County sits within a Groundwater Conservation District (which would add permitting rules) is not confirmed; absent one, Texas's default rule of capture for groundwater likely applies.
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo Bowie County ordinance mandating utility hookups was found; any such requirement would more likely come from a city ordinance within the county, not the county itself.
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 5.2 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 4.0 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,441 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 52 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 2,700 (mild)
- Frost-free season
- Mar 16 to Nov 19
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
CHRISTUS Health Emergency Room - 2.5 mi
- Fire station
Wake Village Fire Department - 0.8 mi
- Hardware store
SERVPRO of Texarkana - 0.5 mi
- Grocery
Walmart Neighborhood Market - 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 75569).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Bowie 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.