Off-grid site report

Rutherford County, TN

35.8519, -86.4330 · 577 ft elevation

Read this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Rutherford County, TN, 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 rulesRutherford County, TN

Zoning & raw-land occupancy

RestrictedRutherford County has an adopted, actively-amended countywide zoning ordinance administered by the Rutherford County Regional Planning Commission for unincorporated areas. Agricultural use on parcels of 5+ acres is a use by right, and ag structures on those parcels are exempt from building permits. source

Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs

Unclear - verifyThe county's Building Codes Department requires a Zoning Compliance Certificate and building permit for residential dwellings under the adopted IRC, but no official county page addresses tiny-house-on-wheels classification or long-term RV occupancy. Confirm directly with Building Codes.

Building permits & codes

RestrictedBuilding permits are required for unincorporated Rutherford County, issued by the county Building Codes Department, requiring a Zoning Compliance Certificate and proof of approved sewage disposal. Minor structures like small sheds and fences are exempt, but standard dwellings are not. source

Septic & composting toilets

RestrictedRutherford County has no local environmental health office for septic; septic permitting is directed to the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) Division of Water Resources, a state authority. No county composting-toilet exemption was found. source

Greywater reuse

Unclear - verifyNo Rutherford County ordinance or guidance on greywater reuse was found; this falls back to the state plumbing code baseline. Confirm with the county Building Codes Department before installing a system.

Rainwater harvesting

Generally allowedNo Rutherford County ordinance restricting rainwater collection was found, so state-level permissiveness appears to control. A plumbing permit may be needed if tying into a home's potable system, though this isn't separately documented at the county level.

Private wells & water rights

Generally allowedPrivate well drilling is regulated by the state through TDEC and licensed well drillers, not by Rutherford County directly. The Consolidated Utility District of Rutherford County also offers STEP wastewater systems as an alternative to septic.

Living disconnected from utilities

Varies locallyGoing off the electric grid is unrestricted by Rutherford County, but any new dwelling permit requires proof of an approved TDEC septic permit or a CUD STEP system before the permit is issued, so wastewater management can't be skipped entirely.

Open the full county page with sources →

Sun30-year normals

Peak-sun hours, annual average: 4.8 hrs/day
Worst month (sizes an off-grid array): 3.5 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels: 1,362 kWh

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Weather1991-2020

Precipitation: 53 in/yr
Snowfall: 3 in/yr
Heating degree days: 3,918 (moderate)
Frost-free season: Apr 14 to Oct 24

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital Saint Thomas Rutherford Hospital: 0.8 mi
Fire station Murfreesboro Fire and Rescue Station 4: 1.1 mi
Hardware store The Home Depot: 0.6 mi
Grocery Aldi: 0.2 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 37089).

Size a solar system Heat loss & insulation Firewood per winter Rainwater harvest Garden size Panel tilt

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.