Off-grid site report

Wilson County, TN

36.1860, -86.2733 · 577 ft elevation

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

Zoning & raw-land occupancy

RestrictedWilson County has countywide zoning administered by the Planning Department and Zoning Division, with districts like A1-Agricultural (80,000 sq ft minimum lot) and R1-Rural Residential (40,000 sq ft minimum). Land divisions under five acres outside urban growth boundaries need Planning Commission approval to be a buildable tract. source

Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs

Unclear - verifyThe county has adopted the 2021 IRC and 2018 IECC with state amendments, but whether Appendix Q (tiny home provisions) is among the adopted appendices is not confirmed; ask the Building Codes Division directly. Floor plans are required for all new homes, mobile homes, and ADUs. source

Building permits & codes

RestrictedWilson County requires building permits, obtainable only by the property owner of record or a licensed contractor, and requires a Zoning Compliance Certificate and Storm Water Permit first. Permits have a validity window before a certificate of occupancy is required. source

Septic & composting toilets

RestrictedSeptic permitting is handled by the state (TDEC field office) under statewide OSDS rules, not by the county directly; STEP systems go through the Water and Wastewater Authority of Wilson County. No county-specific composting toilet exemption from state NSF-41 standards was found. source

Greywater reuse

Unclear - verifyNo Wilson County-specific greywater ordinance was found; this falls back to the state plumbing code framework, so confirm specifics with TDEC or the state plumbing board.

Rainwater harvesting

Generally allowedNo Wilson County restriction on rainwater collection was found in official sources; state law governs and is generally permissive.

Private wells & water rights

Generally allowedPrivate wells are legal under the state Water Well Act, but much of rural Wilson County is served by the Water and Wastewater Authority of Wilson County or West Wilson Utility District, so check service area status first.

Living disconnected from utilities

Varies locallyDisconnecting from the electric grid is unrestricted, but the county's building permit process still requires an approved septic or STEP wastewater solution for a habitable dwelling; no mandatory hookup ordinance for occupancy beyond that was confirmed. 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: 1,357 kWh

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Weather1991-2020

Precipitation: 53 in/yr
Heating degree days: 4,002 (moderate)
Frost-free season: Apr 13 to Oct 24

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital Vanderbilt Wilson County Hospital: 3.9 mi
Fire station Lebanon FIre Department: 1.7 mi
Hardware store Lowe's: 1.4 mi
Grocery Kroger: 3.8 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 37088).

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.