Off-grid site report

Hardin County, TN

35.2259, -88.2158 · 400 ft elevation

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

Zoning & raw-land occupancy

Varies locallyHardin County has countywide zoning with 14 land use zones set by the Hardin County Planning & Development Commission; allowed off-grid uses depend on the zone and may need a conditional use permit. source

Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs

RestrictedBuilding permits are required countywide by Hardin County; specific tiny-home provisions are not confirmed from an official county source, so standard residential permitting should be assumed.

Building permits & codes

RestrictedHardin County requires building permits, and homes 2,000 sq ft or more under roof need submitted construction plans for review; driveway/access documentation is also required. source

Septic & composting toilets

RestrictedThe Hardin County Health Department must complete an on-site sewage evaluation before any building permit is issued for a structure with plumbing, and Tennessee's TDEC On-Site Sewage Program requires a permit for every new septic system statewide. source

Greywater reuse

Unclear - verifyNo official Hardin County page addresses greywater separately from septic/plumbing permitting; it likely falls under the state plumbing code baseline, but this is not confirmed at the county level.

Rainwater harvesting

Generally allowedNo Hardin County ordinance restricting rainwater collection was found; Tennessee's general framework is permissive.

Private wells & water rights

Generally allowedPrivate wells are regulated at the state level under Tennessee's Water Wells Act, administered by TDEC's Division of Water Resources, which licenses well drillers; no county-specific well ordinance was found. source

Living disconnected from utilities

Varies locallyGoing off electric grid is unrestricted, but any structure with plumbing must clear the mandatory Health Department septic evaluation and building permit process in Hardin County before occupancy.

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): 3.5 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels: 1,340 kWh

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Weather1991-2020

Precipitation: 58 in/yr
Snowfall: 3 in/yr
Heating degree days: 3,350 (moderate)
Frost-free season: Apr 6 to Oct 29

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital Hardin Medical Center: 0.8 mi
Fire station Savannah Fire Department: 1.6 mi
Hardware store Lowe's: 0.2 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 38372).

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.