Off-grid site report

Cheatham County, TN

36.3472, -87.1619 · 581 ft elevation

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

Zoning & raw-land occupancy

Varies locallyCheatham County has a countywide Zoning Resolution establishing Rural/Agricultural, Residential, Commercial, Industrial, and Floodplain districts; what you can do with raw land depends on the district, per the county Codes/Land Use department. source

Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs

RestrictedMobile homes are limited to Agriculture-zoned districts while manufactured/modular homes are allowed in any residential district, per the county FAQ; accessory structures used for habitation need engineer/architect certification of IRC compliance. Tiny-house-on-wheels or full-time RV residency status is not confirmed, so ask Codes directly. source

Building permits & codes

RestrictedCheatham County actively enforces the International Residential Code and requires a building permit and Certificate of Occupancy before a structure can be used, per the county's required-permits guidance. source

Septic & composting toilets

RestrictedThe State of Tennessee (TDEC) issues the septic permit, but the county requires proof of that permit before issuing a building permit; no dry-cabin or composting-toilet exemption is documented at the county level. source

Greywater reuse

Unclear - verifyNo Cheatham County-specific greywater ordinance or guidance was found; this falls back to the state's general plumbing code framework, so confirm specifics with county Codes or TDEC.

Rainwater harvesting

Generally allowedNo county restriction on rainwater collection was found in Cheatham County's zoning or building documents, so it appears to follow the general (permissive) state baseline.

Private wells & water rights

Generally allowedPrivate wells are regulated at the state level by TDEC, which licenses well drillers; Cheatham County has no countywide public water system, so private wells are common outside utility district service areas. source

Living disconnected from utilities

Varies locallyNo county ordinance was found requiring hookup to municipal water or sewer; private well and septic is the standard, permitted approach in unincorporated areas, provided septic and building permits are obtained first. source

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: 1,374 kWh

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Weather1991-2020

Precipitation: 50 in/yr
Snowfall: 2 in/yr
Heating degree days: 3,955 (moderate)
Frost-free season: Apr 13 to Oct 27

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital Tennova Healthcare – Clarksville: 17.3 mi
Fire station Ashland City Fire Station #2: 10.7 mi
Hardware store Feed and Mill: 7.8 mi
Grocery Food Lion: 7.3 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 37035).

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.