Off-grid site report

Smith County, TN

36.1439, -85.9405 · 525 ft elevation

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

Zoning & raw-land occupancy

RestrictedSmith County Planning Office enforces an adopted zoning ordinance for all land outside Carthage, South Carthage, and Gordonsville; a permitted-use determination or rezoning/BZA process is required before a building permit issues. source

Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs

Unclear - verifyNo official Smith County source confirms tiny home, Appendix Q, or RV occupancy rules; the county's Development Guide references a one-principal-building-per-lot rule. Ask the Planning Office directly.

Building permits & codes

RestrictedThe Planning Office issues building and electrical permits for unincorporated land following zoning approval; whether Smith County has opted out of the state residential building code program is not confirmed, check the State Fire Marshal's list. source

Septic & composting toilets

RestrictedSeptic systems are permitted under Tennessee's statewide Subsurface Sewage Disposal Systems law (TDEC), generally administered locally, but the exact Smith County administering office was not confirmed. source

Greywater reuse

Unclear - verifyNo Smith County greywater ordinance or health department policy was found; it inherits Tennessee's generally unclear statewide plumbing code treatment. Ask local plumbing officials to confirm.

Rainwater harvesting

Generally allowedNo Smith County ordinance restricting rainwater collection was found; the state's generally permissive approach applies. source

Private wells & water rights

Generally allowedPrivate wells are regulated statewide under the Water Wells Act (TDEC), requiring licensed drillers; two utility districts also serve much of the county but connecting is not a legal requirement over a well. source

Living disconnected from utilities

Varies locallyNo Smith County ordinance was found requiring hookup to a utility district's water system or restricting electric disconnection; any connection mandate would come from the individual utility district, not confirmed in sources reviewed.

Open the full county page with sources →

Sun30-year normals

Peak-sun hours, annual average: 4.9 hrs/day
Worst month (sizes an off-grid array): 3.3 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels: 1,327 kWh

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Weather1991-2020

Precipitation: 54 in/yr
Heating degree days: 3,683 (moderate)
Frost-free season: Apr 3 to Nov 10

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital Riverview with Ascension Saint Thomas: 8.3 mi
Fire station Gordonsville Fire Department: 2.1 mi
Hardware store Cumberland Supply Co.: 6.4 mi
Grocery South Carthage Sav-Way: 6.7 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 38567).

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.