Off-grid site report

Putnam County, TN

36.1526, -85.4982 · 1,066 ft elevation

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

Zoning & raw-land occupancy

Varies locallyPutnam County has no countywide zoning ordinance for unincorporated land, per the county Regional Planning Commission, but floodplain rules apply countywide and subdivision regulations apply if land is split. Property inside Algood, Baxter, Cookeville, or Monterey city limits is governed by that city's own zoning code instead. source

Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs

Unclear - verifyNo Putnam County page specifically addresses tiny homes or RVs as dwellings; with no zoning there's no use restriction, but the Codes Department's building permit rules still apply to habitable structures. Confirm with the Codes Department. source

Building permits & codes

RestrictedThe Putnam County Codes and Planning Department enforces the 2018 International Code Council residential and commercial codes and requires permits for new buildings, additions, decks/porches, modular homes, garages/storage over 200 sq ft, and plumbing/mechanical work. source

Septic & composting toilets

RestrictedA septic permit is required through the state Environmental Office as part of the building permit process, and the Putnam County Health Department's Environmental Division administers well/septic permitting locally with a GIS records lookup. source

Greywater reuse

Unclear - verifyNo Putnam County ordinance or health department page specifically addresses greywater reuse; the state plumbing code standard is presumed to apply but this is not confirmed locally, so ask the Health Department directly.

Rainwater harvesting

Generally allowedNo Putnam County page imposes restrictions on rainwater collection, so it appears to inherit Tennessee's generally permissive state baseline.

Private wells & water rights

Generally allowedPrivate wells (and ponds used for drinking water) require a permit through the Putnam County Health Department, which also offers water testing and basic system inspections; utility districts serve some areas instead.

Living disconnected from utilities

Varies locallyNo county ordinance found requiring grid-electric hookup. Where a parcel is in a utility district's service area, that district (not the county) sets water/sewer connection policy. source

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): 3.4 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels: 1,327 kWh

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Weather1991-2020

Precipitation: 56 in/yr
Snowfall: 6 in/yr
Heating degree days: 4,195 (moderate)
Frost-free season: Apr 16 to Oct 24

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital Cookeville Regional Medical Center: 1.3 mi
Fire station Cookeville Fire Department Station 4: 1.4 mi
Hardware store Lowe's: 0.9 mi
Grocery ALDI: 0.1 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 38502).

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.