Off-grid site report

Dyer County, TN

36.0634, -89.3952 · 325 ft elevation

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

Zoning & raw-land occupancy

RestrictedDyer County has countywide zoning adopted by the Quarterly County Court, establishing districts, setbacks, and use rules, administered by the county's Building & Zoning Office with a Planning Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals for variances. source

Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs

Unclear - verifyNo Dyer County document specifically addresses tiny homes on wheels or RV occupancy; the county does require building permits for mobile/modular homes and other construction, so check with the Building & Zoning Office for your specific project.

Building permits & codes

RestrictedDyer County requires a building permit for new construction, additions, alterations, demolitions, and accessory buildings, and requires a sewage permit and 911 address before permit application. source

Septic & composting toilets

RestrictedSeptic systems are governed statewide by Tennessee Code Title 68, Chapter 221, Part 4 and administered by TDEC; some counties' applications now route through TDEC's online system instead of local health departments, and Dyer County's current intake process was not confirmed. source

Greywater reuse

Unclear - verifyNo Dyer County ordinance on greywater was found, so this falls back to the state plumbing code framework; not confirmed at the county level, so ask the Building & Zoning Office or the state.

Rainwater harvesting

Generally allowedNo state or Dyer County restriction on rainwater collection was found in official sources.

Private wells & water rights

Generally allowedWell drilling statewide is governed by the Tennessee Water Well Act of 1963 and administered by TDEC's Division of Water Resources, requiring a licensed driller and a Notice of Intent before drilling; no added Dyer County rule was found, and the state does not require private well water testing. source

Living disconnected from utilities

Varies locallyNo Dyer County rule requiring utility hookup was found for unincorporated areas; municipal codes would apply only inside Dyersburg or the Town of Dyer, and this was not confirmed for the rest of the county.

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): 3.5 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels: 1,386 kWh

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Weather1991-2020

Precipitation: 51 in/yr
Snowfall: 4 in/yr
Heating degree days: 3,643 (moderate)
Frost-free season: Mar 30 to Nov 2

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital Pemiscot County Memorial Hospital: 22.7 mi
Fire station Dyersburg Fire Station No. 2: 1.4 mi
Hardware store Harbor Freight Tools: 0.4 mi
Grocery Kroger: 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 38024).

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.