Off-grid site report
Monroe County, TN
35.5116, -84.3612 · 997 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Monroe 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 rulesMonroe County, TN
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Varies locallyMunicipal zoning exists for Madisonville and Vonore, but whether Monroe County itself zones unincorporated land is not confirmed. Contact Monroe County Planning to ask directly. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyMadisonville's zoning code restricts single-wide mobile homes to approved parks, but no county-level rule on tiny homes or RVs for unincorporated land was found; state Appendix Q/IRC baseline likely applies absent local rules.
Building permits & codes
Unclear - verifyMadisonville has a formal building permit and enforcement process; whether Monroe County has adopted the state residential building code for unincorporated areas is not confirmed. source
Septic & composting toilets
RestrictedTennessee state law via TDEC requires all septic systems to be permitted and inspected with no rural exceptions; Monroe County doesn't appear to run its own septic health program, so TDEC's regional field office likely handles permits directly, but this isn't confirmed. source
Greywater reuse
Varies locallyNo Monroe County-specific greywater rule was found; the state plumbing code baseline would apply pending confirmation from TDEC or a local field office.
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedNo Monroe County restriction was found; state law permits rainwater collection.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedNo Monroe County-specific well permitting page was found; Tennessee's Water Well Act requiring a state-licensed driller applies by default.
Living disconnected from utilities
Varies locallyNo county ordinance on mandatory utility hookups was found; municipal codes in Madisonville, Sweetwater, Vonore, or Tellico Plains may require connection where available, but this isn't directly confirmed.
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 5.0 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 3.7 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,341 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 55 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 3,745 (moderate)
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Sweetwater Hospital - 8.5 mi
- Fire station
1 Sweetwater Fire Station - 9.2 mi
- Hardware store
Sloan's Hometown Hardware - 11.1 mi
- Grocery
Walmart Supercenter - 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 37354).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Monroe County, TN?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.