Off-grid site report

Unicoi County, TN

36.1868, -82.3743 · 1,824 ft elevation

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

Zoning & raw-land occupancy

Varies locallyUnicoi County's own site shows no countywide zoning ordinance for unincorporated land; the Town of Unicoi and Town of Erwin each administer separate zoning ordinances inside their limits. Confirm which jurisdiction covers your parcel before assuming no zoning applies. source

Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs

Unclear - verifyNo Unicoi County-specific rule on tiny homes, Appendix Q, or RVs as dwellings was found; the state baseline likely governs by default. Not confirmed, so check with the county planning office or relevant town. source

Building permits & codes

Varies locallyWhether unincorporated Unicoi County has opted out of the state residential code is not confirmed; check the state's opt-out jurisdiction list. Inside Erwin and Unicoi town limits, permits and inspections are clearly required under adopted International Codes. source

Septic & composting toilets

RestrictedA state Septic System Construction Permit through TDEC is required, with the Unicoi County Health Department handling local environmental health functions. No local composting-toilet exemption was found. source

Greywater reuse

Unclear - verifyNo Unicoi County-specific greywater ordinance was found; the state plumbing baseline likely applies, but confirm with the county Health Department since it ties into septic permitting. source

Rainwater harvesting

Generally allowedNo county or town ordinance restricting rainwater collection turned up in official sources, so the unrestricted state baseline applies.

Private wells & water rights

Generally allowedNo county-specific well ordinance was found; the state Water Well Act framework applies. Town residents typically rely on utility districts rather than private wells.

Living disconnected from utilities

Varies locallyElectric grid disconnection is unrestricted by any found county rule. Inside Erwin and Unicoi town limits, new structures needing water, electric, or wastewater service require a Certificate of Occupancy and inspection through the town/utility.

Open the full county page with sources →

Sun30-year normals

Peak-sun hours, annual average: 4.7 hrs/day
Worst month (sizes an off-grid array): 3.6 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels: 1,284 kWh

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Weather1991-2020

Precipitation: 45 in/yr
Snowfall: 8 in/yr
Heating degree days: 4,157 (moderate)
Frost-free season: Apr 18 to Oct 25

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital James H. Quillen VA Medical Center: 8.3 mi
Fire station Embreeville Volunteer Fire Department: 4.6 mi
Hardware store True Value: 3.7 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 37692).

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.