Off-grid site report
Culberson County, TX
31.0389, -104.8972 · 4,311 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Culberson 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 rulesCulberson County, TX
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Unclear - verifyNo countywide zoning ordinance was found on Culberson County's official site; Texas counties generally lack broad zoning power over unincorporated land. If inside Van Horn town limits or ETJ, town zoning may apply, but this isn't confirmed from an official Van Horn source. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyNo published Culberson County rule on minimum dwelling size, tiny homes, or RV occupancy was found; falls back to the general state baseline, which has no statewide minimum.
Building permits & codes
Unclear - verifyNo adopted building code was confirmed on Culberson County's official site, though a non-official directory suggests some permitting activity exists. Confirm directly with the county. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedSeptic (OSSF) systems are permitted and regulated at the state level by TCEQ, with an exemption available for qualifying sites of 10+ acres under the so-called 10 acre rule. It's not confirmed whether Culberson County or a TCEQ regional office is the direct permitting authority locally. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNo standalone Culberson County greywater rule was found; greywater appears to be addressed within the state's OSSF framework rather than as its own program.
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedNo county ordinance restricts rainwater harvesting; the state baseline, via the Texas Water Development Board, generally encourages it.
Private wells & water rights
RestrictedThe Culberson County Groundwater Conservation District requires new well locations to be approved by the district before drilling, though parts of the county historically fall outside district boundaries and default to the state's rule of capture. Confirm current boundaries with CCGWCD. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Generally allowedNo county or Van Horn ordinance requiring utility hookups was found, though this isn't confirmed for property inside Van Horn town limits.
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 6.7 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 5.5 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,853 kWh
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Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 12 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 3 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 2,817 (mild)
- Frost-free season
- Mar 31 to Nov 7
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Culberson Hospital - 4.2 mi
- Fire station
- none within range
- Hardware store
- none within range
- Grocery
Porter's - 2.5 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 79855).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Culberson 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.