Off-grid site report
Houston County, TN
36.3206, -87.8414 · 482 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Houston 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 rulesHouston County, TN
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Unclear - verifyNo official Houston County zoning ordinance or planning page was found. Tennessee does not mandate zoning on unincorporated county land, and small rural counties often have none, but this isn't confirmed for Houston County specifically. Ask the county courthouse or the town of Erin. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyNo Houston County-specific rule on tiny homes, Appendix Q, or RV living was found. This depends on whether the county has adopted state residential codes, which is not confirmed.
Building permits & codes
Unclear - verifyNo official Houston County building-permit page was found. Enforcement may run through incorporated towns like Erin rather than the county, but that is unconfirmed and should be checked by phone. source
Septic & composting toilets
RestrictedTennessee's TDEC Division of Water Resources now issues septic (subsurface sewage disposal) permits statewide through its own online portal instead of county health departments, and this applies to Houston County. No composting-toilet exemption was found. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNo Houston County-specific greywater ordinance was found. The state plumbing code baseline (subsurface irrigation with holding tank and filtration) would presumably apply, enforced by whatever local plumbing authority exists, but this is not confirmed locally.
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedNo Houston County restriction on rainwater collection was found, so Tennessee's generally permissive state-level stance applies.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedPrivate wells are regulated at the state level under Tennessee's water well statute and require a state-licensed driller. No Houston County-specific well ordinance was found.
Living disconnected from utilities
Varies locallyNo county ordinance mandating hookup to public water or sewer was found. Electric disconnection is unrestricted under state rules; sewer/water hookup requirements would depend on proximity to a municipal system in Erin, Tennessee Ridge, or Stewart, which is not confirmed. source
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
- 1,373 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 53 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 4,141 (moderate)
- Frost-free season
- Apr 7 to Nov 4
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Houston County Community Hospital - 8.4 mi
- Fire station
- none within range
- Hardware store
Midwest Supply - 16.7 mi
- Grocery
Piggly Wiggly - 7.1 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 37175).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Houston 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.