Off-grid site report

McNairy County, TN

35.3120, -88.6273 · 459 ft elevation

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

Zoning & raw-land occupancy

Unclear - verifyNo official McNairy County zoning ordinance or map was found; Tennessee county zoning is optional under state law and most rural counties like McNairy have no zoning outside incorporated towns. Not confirmed for unincorporated county land, so ask the County Clerk or Mayor's office directly. source

Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs

Unclear - verifyNo McNairy County ordinance on tiny homes, Appendix Q, or RV living was found. Default is the Tennessee state building code framework, but this is not confirmed for McNairy specifically.

Building permits & codes

Unclear - verifyIt's not confirmed whether McNairy County enforces a building code or requires permits in unincorporated areas; incorporated towns like Adamsville, Bethel Springs, and Michie appear to handle their own permitting through city hall. source

Septic & composting toilets

RestrictedMcNairy County is not a state-designated 'contract county,' so septic construction permits are issued by TDEC's Division of Water Resources through the Jackson Environmental Field Office, not a county health department. source

Greywater reuse

Unclear - verifyNo McNairy-specific greywater rule was found; it inherits the state plumbing code and TDEC septic framework by default, and enforcement statewide is inconsistent.

Rainwater harvesting

Generally allowedRainwater collection is unregulated at the Tennessee state level, and nothing in McNairy County's official record contradicts that.

Private wells & water rights

Generally allowedPrivate wells fall under Tennessee's statewide Water Well Act requiring a licensed driller; TDEC's Groundwater Protection program, via the Jackson Environmental Field Office, is the relevant authority for McNairy as a non-contract county.

Living disconnected from utilities

Varies locallyNo McNairy County ordinance mandating utility hookup was found; electric disconnection is unrestricted statewide, while water/sewer rules likely depend on proximity to a municipal system inside towns like Selmer, though this is not officially confirmed.

Open the full county page with sources →

Sun30-year normals

Peak-sun hours, annual average: 5.0 hrs/day
Worst month (sizes an off-grid array): 3.3 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels: 1,393 kWh

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Weather1991-2020

Precipitation: 58 in/yr
Heating degree days: 4,038 (moderate)

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital Bolivar General Hospital: 21.2 mi
Fire station: none within range
Hardware store S&K Home Improvement: 12.7 mi
Grocery Piggly Wiggly: 8.5 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 38334).

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.