Off-grid site report

Fayette County, TN

35.2295, -89.5235 · 358 ft elevation

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

Zoning & raw-land occupancy

RestrictedFayette County has a countywide Zoning Resolution administered by the Planning & Development office, which reviews land division and land use compliance. This is a county-level rule, not something towns override individually for unincorporated land. source

Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs

Unclear - verifyNo official Fayette County page addresses tiny homes, Appendix Q, or RV occupancy specifically; general building permit rules apply but specifics aren't confirmed. Ask Planning & Development directly. source

Building permits & codes

RestrictedFayette County requires a building permit for construction, alteration, or moving of structures, and requires an approved septic permit before the building permit is issued. source

Septic & composting toilets

RestrictedSeptic systems are state-mandated but permitted locally through the Fayette County Health Department; no dry-cabin or composting toilet exemption is confirmed for the county. source

Greywater reuse

Unclear - verifyNo Fayette County or state-specific page on greywater reuse was found; this is not confirmed at the county level, so ask the Fayette County Health Department.

Rainwater harvesting

Generally allowedNo Fayette County ordinance restricting rainwater harvesting was found, so it appears permitted under the general state baseline, though this isn't spelled out on a county-specific page.

Private wells & water rights

Generally allowedFayette County's own materials describe unincorporated residents as routinely digging private wells since there's no countywide public water system; wells are regulated at the state level under the Water Well Act. source

Living disconnected from utilities

Varies locallyDisconnecting from water and sewer utilities is the norm in unincorporated Fayette County via well and septic; incorporated towns like Somerville and Oakland run their own utility departments with rules not confirmed in this research. source

Open the full county page with sources →

Sun30-year normals

Peak-sun hours, annual average: 5.1 hrs/day
Worst month (sizes an off-grid array): 3.9 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels: 1,425 kWh

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Weather1991-2020

Precipitation: 55 in/yr
Snowfall: 2 in/yr
Heating degree days: 3,490 (moderate)
Frost-free season: Mar 31 to Oct 31

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital Baptist Arlington Emergency Department: 8.5 mi
Fire station Hickory Withe Fire Department: 6.4 mi
Hardware store Ace Hardware: 1.1 mi
Grocery Walmart Supercenter: 0.3 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 38060).

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 22, 2026; agencies update their layers on their own schedules. Planning data, not a survey or legal advice.