Off-grid site report
Donley County, TX
34.9442, -100.8992 · 2,763 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Donley 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 rulesDonley County, TX
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Generally allowedTexas counties, including Donley, lack general zoning authority under state law; only incorporated towns like Clarendon, Howardwick, or Hedley could impose zoning within their limits, and none was found published. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyNo Donley County ordinance on minimum dwelling size, tiny homes, or RV occupancy was found; any such rule would likely come from a town, not confirmed county-wide.
Building permits & codes
Unclear - verifyTexas has no statewide building code and no evidence Donley County adopted one for unincorporated areas; check with the county directly. source
Septic & composting toilets
Varies locallyTCEQ requires an OSSF permit for septic systems statewide, but it's not confirmed whether Donley County is a TCEQ Authorized Agent that issues these locally versus applicants filing with the TCEQ regional office. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyGreywater is folded into the general OSSF rules (30 TAC 285) statewide; no separate Donley County greywater rule was found. source
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedTexas state policy encourages rainwater harvesting for domestic use, and no Donley County restriction was found.
Private wells & water rights
RestrictedThe Panhandle Groundwater Conservation District (PGCD), covering Donley County, requires registration for all wells and permits for larger-producing wells; smaller domestic wells may qualify for exempt registration only. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Generally allowedNo state law or Donley County rule requires connecting to utilities; a mandate, if any, would come from a town's municipal code.
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 6.1 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 4.9 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,706 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 24 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 5 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 3,849 (moderate)
- Frost-free season
- Apr 10 to Oct 26
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
- none within range
- Fire station
Howardwick Volunteer Fire Department - 6.2 mi
- Hardware store
Ace Hardware - 0.5 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 79226).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Donley 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.