Off-grid site report

Meigs County, TN

35.6548, -84.7511 · 778 ft elevation

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

Zoning & raw-land occupancy

RestrictedMeigs County maintains a Zoning Resolution, Subdivision Regulations, and Floodplain Regulations enforced by a county Compliance Coordinator, unlike many rural TN counties with no zoning at all. source

Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs

Varies locallyMobile/manufactured homes are specifically defined and regulated by the county; tiny-home-on-wheels or Appendix Q status is not confirmed officially, so ask the Compliance Coordinator directly. source

Building permits & codes

RestrictedThe county's Compliance Coordinator issues compliance/building permits, but which code edition or state program the county defers to is not confirmed from an official document. source

Septic & composting toilets

RestrictedMeigs County has no county-run septic program and directs residents to the state's TDEC Chattanooga Environmental Field Office for septic permits. source

Greywater reuse

Unclear - verifyNo Meigs County-specific greywater rule was found; it appears to inherit the state's general framework, which allows subsurface reuse but with limited enforcement clarity. Ask TDEC or the county Planning office if in doubt.

Rainwater harvesting

Generally allowedNo county ordinance restricts rainwater collection; it inherits Tennessee's generally permissive stance, with plumbing-code caveats if tied into a potable system.

Private wells & water rights

Generally allowedWells in Meigs County are governed entirely by the statewide Water Well Act of 1963, requiring a licensed driller; there's no county-specific well ordinance. source

Living disconnected from utilities

Varies locallyNo county ordinance forces grid hookup, so electrical off-grid living looks unrestricted, but a septic permit (state-issued) is still required for any new dwelling's wastewater. 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): 3.6 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels: 1,324 kWh

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Weather1991-2020

Precipitation: 57 in/yr
Heating degree days: 4,024 (moderate)

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital Rhea Medical Center: 15.6 mi
Fire station Wolf Creek Fire District Station 1: 5.9 mi
Hardware store Galloway's ACE Hardware: 6.7 mi
Grocery IGA: 6.5 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 37381).

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.