Off-grid site report

Obion County, TN

36.4144, -89.0782 · 328 ft elevation

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

Zoning & raw-land occupancy

Varies locallyObion County has not adopted a countywide zoning ordinance, according to the county government; zoning exists only within incorporated towns like Union City, Obion, Rives, Troy, South Fulton, Kenton, and Woodland Mills, each with its own code. Outside those town limits, raw land is not governed by any zoning code. source

Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs

Unclear - verifyNo official Obion County or town code specifying minimum dwelling size or RV residency rules was found; this is not confirmed and likely defaults to Tennessee's state building code baseline. Ask the relevant town's building office or the County Assessor's Office.

Building permits & codes

RestrictedA building permit is required countywide, including unincorporated land, issued by the Obion County Assessor's Office at the courthouse; incorporated towns like Union City issue their own permits within city limits. Flood zone properties need extra permitting, and projects disturbing an acre or more need a TDEC stormwater permit; state law also limits new home construction to one personal residence every two years. source

Septic & composting toilets

RestrictedSeptic permitting in Tennessee has been shifting to a direct TDEC online portal model in comparable rural counties; it's not confirmed whether Obion County's health department still handles any local intake, so call to verify before installing a system. source

Greywater reuse

Unclear - verifyNo official Obion County or town page addresses greywater reuse; this is not confirmed locally and likely defaults to the Tennessee state plumbing code baseline.

Rainwater harvesting

Generally allowedNo county or town ordinance restricting rainwater collection was found, so this likely follows Tennessee's generally permissive state baseline, though it's not separately confirmed for Obion County.

Private wells & water rights

Generally allowedPrivate wells statewide must be constructed by a state-licensed driller under the Tennessee Water Well Act; no Obion County-specific additional well ordinance was found, so the state process applies.

Living disconnected from utilities

Varies locallyNo Obion County or town ordinance requiring hookup to water or sewer was found, and grid disconnection is unrestricted, but individual towns may impose their own utility connection rules under their separate codes, so check with the relevant town.

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): 3.6 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels: 1,406 kWh

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Weather1991-2020

Precipitation: 52 in/yr
Snowfall: 7 in/yr
Heating degree days: 4,115 (moderate)
Frost-free season: Apr 5 to Oct 27

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital Baptist Memorial Hospital - Union City: 1.9 mi
Fire station Union City Fire Department: 1.3 mi
Hardware store Harbor Freight Tools: 0.4 mi
Grocery Walmart Supercenter: 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 38261).

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.