Off-grid site report
Hamilton County, TN
35.0750, -85.3330 · 666 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Hamilton 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 rulesHamilton County, TN
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
RestrictedHamilton County has countywide zoning administered by the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Regional Planning Agency (CHCRPA/RPA); municipalities within the county have their own separate codes. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyNo official Hamilton County page confirms tiny-house-on-wheels classification, Appendix Q adoption, or long-term RV occupancy rules; ask the Building Inspection Department directly.
Building permits & codes
RestrictedHamilton County's Building Inspection Department requires permits for new construction, additions, and repairs (with a small exemption for unplumbed/unwired storage buildings), and allows limited homeowner self-permitting. source
Septic & composting toilets
RestrictedHamilton County is a 'contract county' that may require its own septic permit in addition to the statewide TDEC Septic System Construction Permit; applications go through the county's Building Inspection Department. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNo Hamilton County-specific greywater ordinance or guidance was found; not confirmed, so ask Building Inspection about local enforcement practice.
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedNo Hamilton County ordinance restricting rainwater collection was found; the county's stormwater/land-disturbance permitting applies to construction runoff, not rain barrels or cisterns. source
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedWells are governed by TDEC's statewide driller licensing and construction standards; no confirmed separate Hamilton County well permit was found, so verify with the county directly. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Varies locallyDisconnecting from the electric grid is unrestricted, but parts of eastern Hamilton County served by the county's Water and Wastewater Treatment Authority have documented sewer-capacity issues that can complicate septic permitting nearby; current status is not confirmed via official source.
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
- 1,343 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 55 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 3,941 (moderate)
- Frost-free season
- Apr 1 to Nov 9
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Erlanger Health System - 3.0 mi
- Fire station
CFD Station 12 - 1.8 mi
- Hardware store
Ace Hardware - 1.2 mi
- Grocery
Whole Foods Market - 1.3 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 37405).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Hamilton County, TN?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.
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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.