Off-grid site report
Madison County, NC
35.8883, -82.7436 · 2,435 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Madison County, NC, 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 rulesMadison County, NC
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Varies locallyMadison County adopted countywide zoning in 1974 under NC Chapter 160D authority, administered by Madison County Planning & Zoning. Towns like Marshall, Mars Hill, Hot Springs, and Town of Madison run separate zoning within their limits/ETJ, so jurisdiction depends on exact parcel location. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
RestrictedThe county issues separate permits for residential, mobile home, and RV/park model dwellings, and limits density to two dwellings per tract per county ordinance. Tiny-home-specific rules were not confirmed; ask Planning & Inspections. source
Building permits & codes
RestrictedMadison County Inspections enforces the statewide NC Building Code set by the NC Building Code Council, and will not issue a building permit until septic is approved. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedMadison County Environmental Health issues Construction Authorization Permits for septic systems under state rules, with no fixed minimum acreage but site-specific evaluation requirements. source
Greywater reuse
RestrictedNo Madison County-specific greywater ordinance was found; this defers to the state DEQ/DHHS baseline, which is generally restrictive. Not confirmed at the county level.
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedNo county ordinance restricting rainwater catchment or cisterns was found, so this follows the more permissive state baseline. Not confirmed beyond that.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedPrivate wells are permitted and administered by Madison County Environmental Health, tied to the same site-plan process used for septic approval and address assignment. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyThere's no explicit county ban on off-grid living, but since a building permit requires prior septic approval, a fully permitted dwelling generally needs an approved wastewater system. Composting-toilet-only or fully disconnected occupancy isn't explicitly confirmed either way, so ask Planning & Inspections. source
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
- 1,346 kWh
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Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 40 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 25 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 4,756 (moderate)
- Frost-free season
- Apr 30 to Oct 13
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Greeneville Community Hospital - 19.9 mi
- Fire station
Walnut Community VFD - 3.2 mi
- Hardware store
Gentry Hardware - 4.7 mi
- Grocery
Ingles - 6.6 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 28753).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Madison County, NC?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.
New here, or not sure where this fits? Start here walks through the whole thing in order.