Off-grid site report

Henry County, TN

36.2837, -88.3112 · 466 ft elevation

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

Zoning & raw-land occupancy

Generally allowedHenry County has no countywide zoning in unincorporated areas, per the county's own Property Subdivision and Codes Enforcement office. Incorporated towns like Paris and Henry may have separate zoning ordinances not covered by this county confirmation. source

Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs

Unclear - verifyNo Henry County page specifically addresses tiny homes, Appendix Q, or RV occupancy. Since building permits aren't required outside commercial contexts in unincorporated areas, dwelling-type restrictions seem loosely enforced there, but this isn't explicitly confirmed. source

Building permits & codes

Generally allowedHenry County does not require building permits in unincorporated areas, though commercial businesses must follow State of Tennessee Fire Codes. This differs inside Paris or the Town of Henry, where municipal building departments issue permits. source

Septic & composting toilets

RestrictedSeptic systems require a permit and soil (perc) testing under TDEC's framework, with inspections in Henry County carried out regionally by the Northwest Corridor Health District (NCDHD). No county exemption for composting toilets was found. source

Greywater reuse

Unclear - verifyNo Henry County or NCDHD page addresses greywater reuse specifically; this defers to the state baseline, which is generally permissive with storage and filtration conditions. Not confirmed at the county level.

Rainwater harvesting

Generally allowedNo Henry County ordinance restricts rainwater collection; this inherits Tennessee's generally permissive state baseline, though plumbing tie-ins to household lines would need inspection.

Private wells & water rights

Generally allowedPrivate wells are regulated at the state level by TDEC's Division of Water Resources, requiring a Notice of Intent and a licensed driller. No added Henry County permit layer was confirmed, but this should be verified directly. source

Living disconnected from utilities

Varies locallyHenry County requires state inspection of electrical connections if made, via the State Electrical Inspector and Paris Board of Public Utilities, but no county ordinance mandates connecting to grid electric, water, or sewer for occupancy. 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): 3.1 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels: 1,365 kWh

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Weather1991-2020

Precipitation: 54 in/yr
Snowfall: 5 in/yr
Heating degree days: 4,087 (moderate)
Frost-free season: Apr 8 to Oct 30

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital West Tennessee Healthcare Henry County Hospital: 0.9 mi
Fire station: none within range
Hardware store Lowe's: 0.4 mi
Grocery Walmart Supercenter: 0.3 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 38242).

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.