Off-grid site report

Weakley County, TN

36.3362, -88.8167 · 413 ft elevation

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

Zoning & raw-land occupancy

Generally allowedWeakley County has no countywide zoning ordinance for unincorporated land, per the county Trustee's own building-permits page. Zoning is handled at the municipal level in incorporated cities; confirm directly with the county since this isn't spelled out in a formal ordinance. source

Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs

Unclear - verifyNo county ordinance addressing tiny homes, RVs, or dwelling types was found. The county's silence plus its 'no codes outside city limits' stance suggests few restrictions, but this is not confirmed; inside city limits like Martin, adopted International Residential Code standards apply instead. source

Building permits & codes

Varies locallyOutside city limits, the county only charges a flat building permit fee with no code review, per the Trustee's office. Inside cities such as Martin, full International Code standards with local amendments apply and are inspected by the state. source

Septic & composting toilets

RestrictedWeakley County is not one of Tennessee's self-administering septic counties, so septic permitting almost certainly runs through TDEC's state Subsurface Sewage Disposal System program rather than a county office. Confirm the exact routing with TDEC and the county Health Department. source

Greywater reuse

Unclear - verifyNo Weakley County document addresses greywater reuse; this defaults to the state plumbing code/TDEC framework, which itself is not spelled out clearly in county materials. Confirm specifics with TDEC or the county Health Department.

Rainwater harvesting

Generally allowedNo county ordinance restricts rainwater harvesting, and this appears to follow Tennessee's generally unrestricted state position on rainwater collection.

Private wells & water rights

Generally allowedNo Weakley County-specific well ordinance was found; wells are governed by Tennessee's state Water Well Act and must be drilled by a state-licensed driller, with the county Health Department handling general environmental health questions. source

Living disconnected from utilities

Varies locallyNo county mandate requiring hookup to public water or sewer was found for unincorporated land, consistent with the county's lack of broad zoning and building codes there. Inside city limits, check with that city's hall since municipal utility rules could apply. source

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: 1,408 kWh

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Weather1991-2020

Precipitation: 53 in/yr
Snowfall: 4 in/yr
Heating degree days: 3,979 (moderate)
Frost-free season: Apr 4 to Oct 27

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital West Tennessee Healthcare - Volunteer Martin: 2.9 mi
Fire station Martin Fire Department Station 3: 3.5 mi
Hardware store General Supply Co.: 1.9 mi
Grocery Price Less Foods: 2.9 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 38238).

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.