Off-grid site report

Davidson County, TN

36.1760, -86.7604 · 453 ft elevation

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

Zoning & raw-land occupancy

RestrictedEvery parcel in Davidson County has a zoning classification under Metro's Title 17 zoning code, administered by the Metro Planning Department; there is no unzoned rural land as in other TN counties. A newer Airport Authority land-use layer is reported in the news but not yet in official code, so confirm with Planning for a specific parcel. source

Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs

Unclear - verifyMetro enforces the IRC for one- and two-family homes, but no Davidson-specific Appendix Q or tiny-house/RV-as-dwelling ordinance was confirmed. Contact Metro Codes & Building Safety for classification of a specific structure. source

Building permits & codes

RestrictedMetro Codes & Building Safety actively enforces the 2018 IRC (plus adopted commercial, electrical, plumbing, mechanical codes) countywide; Davidson County has not opted out of state building codes, and even additions require permitting and zoning review. source

Septic & composting toilets

RestrictedMetro's Board of Health requires a permit for sewage disposal, and the Metro Public Health Department's Environmental Health division handles septic design and feasibility; no local exemption for composting toilets was found beyond the state NSF 41 baseline. source

Greywater reuse

Unclear - verifyNo Metro-specific greywater ordinance was found; the state plumbing code baseline likely applies, but confirm with Metro Codes & Building Safety's Plumbing Inspection Division.

Rainwater harvesting

Generally allowedNo Metro ordinance restricts rainwater collection; any plumbing tie-in to a household system falls under the adopted plumbing code and needs Codes review.

Private wells & water rights

Generally allowedPrivate wells are governed mainly by the state Water Well Act (licensed drillers) rather than a Davidson County ordinance; Metro Water Services is relevant mainly for utility district boundary and service-area issues. source

Living disconnected from utilities

Varies locallyDisconnecting from grid electricity is unrestricted by Metro. Water/sewer disconnection is restricted where Metro service is accessible, since Metro Water Services requires paid capacity and an approved utility plan as part of building permit sign-off. 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): 3.3 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels: 1,342 kWh

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Weather1991-2020

Precipitation: 47 in/yr
Snowfall: 6 in/yr
Heating degree days: 3,688 (moderate)
Frost-free season: Apr 6 to Nov 2

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital The Children's Hospital at TriStar Centennial: 3.0 mi
Fire station Nashville Fire Department Station 22: 4.9 mi
Hardware store Good Wood: 1.5 mi
Grocery Turnip Truck Natural Market: 0.2 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 37213).

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.