Off-grid site report
Menard County, TX
30.9205, -99.7837 · 1,916 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Menard 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 rulesMenard County, TX
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Generally allowedMenard County has no general land-use zoning ordinance; Texas counties generally lack home-rule zoning power, and the county regulates via subdivision platting and manufactured-home rules instead. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Varies locallyManufactured homes are covered under county Subdivision and Manufactured Home Regulations; state law requires the county to issue residential building permits, including a special provision for 5-10 acre agricultural tracts. Tiny home and RV occupancy rules specific to Menard County were not confirmed. source
Building permits & codes
Varies locallyTexas has no statewide building code baseline; Menard County references setback standards tied to state Model Subdivision Rules, but whether a full residential building code applies outside platted subdivisions was not confirmed. Ask the county directly. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedSeptic (OSSF) systems are permitted statewide under TCEQ rules requiring a permit and approved plan; whether Menard County itself administers permits or defers to the TCEQ regional office was not confirmed. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyGreywater is folded into the same statewide OSSF framework administered by TCEQ; no Menard County-specific greywater rule was found.
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedNo Menard County restriction on rainwater harvesting was found; this inherits the generally permissive Texas state baseline.
Private wells & water rights
Varies locallyMost of Menard County lies within the Menard County Underground Water District, a groundwater conservation district. Historical records show this district lacked authority to permit domestic, livestock, or wildlife wells, but whether that has since changed was not confirmed, so contact the district directly. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Generally allowedNo Menard County ordinance requiring hookup to electric, water, or sewer utilities for general unincorporated living was found; utility easement requirements found only apply to platted subdivisions. source
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 5.7 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 4.9 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,608 kWh
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Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 23 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 1 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 2,723 (mild)
- Frost-free season
- Apr 9 to Oct 30
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Concho County Hospital - 21.1 mi
- Fire station
Menard Fire Department - 1.0 mi
- Hardware store
Pecan Valley Lumber - 0.1 mi
- Grocery
Lowe's Market - 0.5 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 76859).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Menard 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.