Off-grid site report
Franklin County, TN
35.2175, -86.1007 · 971 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Franklin 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 rulesFranklin County, TN
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
RestrictedFranklin County has an adopted Zoning Resolution covering unincorporated land, administered by the county Planning and Zoning Department, Regional Planning Commission, and Board of Zoning Appeals. This differs from many rural TN counties that have no zoning at all. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyNo Franklin County page specifically addresses tiny homes, Appendix Q, or RV occupancy. State baseline: Tennessee adopted the 2018 IRC with Appendix Q for site-built tiny homes, but counties may opt out, and tiny homes on wheels are generally treated as RVs; confirm Franklin County's stance with Planning and Zoning. source
Building permits & codes
RestrictedFranklin County requires building permits, per the county's own Planning and Zoning page listing a fee schedule and adopted standard building codes. source
Septic & composting toilets
RestrictedSeptic systems are regulated statewide by TDEC's On-Site Sewage Program; it's not confirmed whether Franklin County applications route through a local health department or a TDEC field office directly, so confirm by phone. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNo Franklin County ordinance on greywater was found. State plumbing code generally permits greywater reuse for subsurface irrigation with proper tanks and filtration, but local enforcement specifics for this county are not confirmed.
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedNo Franklin County ordinance restricting rainwater collection was found, and Tennessee state law does not restrict rainwater harvesting.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedWells fall under the statewide Tennessee Water Well Act of 1963, requiring a licensed driller and a Notice of Intent filed with TDEC before drilling; no added Franklin County-specific well ordinance was found. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Varies locallyNo Franklin County rule was found requiring hookup to public water or sewer in unincorporated areas, but any permitted structure still needs an approved septic and water solution. Electric grid disconnection is unrestricted statewide. source
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
- 1,398 kWh
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Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 53 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 4 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 3,684 (moderate)
- Frost-free season
- Apr 14 to Oct 24
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Southern Tennessee - Winchester - 2.9 mi
- Fire station
Keith Springs Fire Department - 8.2 mi
- Hardware store
The Home Depot - 0.3 mi
- Grocery
Walmart Supercenter - 0.2 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 37398).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Franklin 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.