Off-grid site report

Sumner County, TN

36.5156, -86.2655 · 617 ft elevation

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

Zoning & raw-land occupancy

Varies locallyUnincorporated Sumner County has countywide zoning enforced by the Planning and Engineering Department, unlike many rural TN counties with none; rules vary by zoning district and the code is actively being amended, so confirm your parcel's district before assuming any use is allowed. source

Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs

Varies locallyTiny homes appear to be permitted with county inspection, but it's not confirmed if Appendix Q is formally adopted; living long-term in an RV as a permanent home on raw land is not confirmed as allowed since the county's permit process assumes conventional septic/water hookups. source

Building permits & codes

RestrictedSumner County Building & Codes Department requires a permit for construction, with penalties for unpermitted work and a limited window to start work after a permit is issued; details on exact fees and timelines should be confirmed directly with that office. source

Septic & composting toilets

RestrictedSeptic permitting is handled entirely by the state (TDEC), not the county; a TDEC scientist evaluates the site and issues a Certificate of Completion after installation, and no county-level dry-cabin or composting-toilet exemption was found. source

Greywater reuse

Unclear - verifyNo Sumner County-specific greywater ordinance was found; this falls back to an unclear state plumbing code baseline, so check directly with the county Building & Codes Department for your project.

Rainwater harvesting

Generally allowedNo Sumner County or state restriction on rainwater collection was found; simple catchment and storage appears unrestricted, though tying it into a permitted structure's plumbing would go through the county building permit process. source

Private wells & water rights

Generally allowedWells are regulated at the state level under the Tennessee Water Well Act; a licensed driller must submit a Notice of Intent before drilling, and the county relies on the driller's report rather than issuing its own separate well permit. source

Living disconnected from utilities

Varies locallyDisconnecting from grid electricity is unregulated, but the county's building permit process requires proof of either septic/sewer approval and either a water tap receipt or a well driller's report before a habitable structure gets final approval. source

Open the full county page with sources →

Sun30-year normals

Peak-sun hours, annual average: 4.8 hrs/day
Worst month (sizes an off-grid array): 3.2 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels: 1,352 kWh

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Weather1991-2020

Precipitation: 53 in/yr
Snowfall: 5 in/yr
Heating degree days: 4,361 (moderate)
Frost-free season: Apr 17 to Oct 21

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital Trousdale Medical Center: 10.3 mi
Fire station Stony Point Volunteer Fire Department: 13.1 mi
Hardware store Harbor Freight Tools: 13.9 mi
Grocery Piggly Wiggly: 10.0 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 37022).

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.