Off-grid site report

Loudon County, TN

35.8216, -84.2669 · 906 ft elevation
Read this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Loudon 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 rulesLoudon County, TN

Zoning & raw-land occupancy
RestrictedLoudon County has an adopted, actively-amended zoning resolution administered by the Loudon County Regional Planning Commission, covering unincorporated areas and Greenback; the City of Loudon and Philadelphia have their own separate zoning. Raw-land use depends on district (A-1, A-2, R-1, commercial, etc.), so it is not unrestricted. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyNo official Loudon County document confirms or opts out of IRC Appendix Q tiny-home standards or specifically classifies tiny-houses-on-wheels; RV Parks are mentioned as a permitted-use category. Confirm district-specific dwelling and RV rules directly with Planning & Codes. source
Building permits & codes
RestrictedLoudon County has adopted and enforces the 2012 International Building, Plumbing, Mechanical, and Residential Codes in unincorporated areas, with county inspectors certified by the state and ICC; the City of Loudon runs a separate permitting process through its own Codes Enforcement office. source
Septic & composting toilets
RestrictedLoudon County has no county septic office and defers entirely to the state; TDEC's Division of Water Resources issues septic permits and handles applications online, with the Knoxville Field Office as the local contact. No county-level composting-toilet exemption was found. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNo Loudon County-specific greywater ordinance was found; the county enforces the 2012 International Plumbing Code generally, but this doesn't confirm local greywater permitting practice. Confirm with Planning & Codes and TDEC before installing a system. source
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedNo Loudon County ordinance restricting rainwater collection was found; the state baseline of permitted collection appears to carry through since the county's building code page mentions no added restriction.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedLoudon County has no dedicated well-permitting authority; private wells are governed by the state Water Well Act and licensed drillers, with local water utilities like Loudon Utilities, LCUB, and TASS providing service in some areas but not permitting wells.
Living disconnected from utilities
Varies locallyNo countywide mandatory utility-connection ordinance was found on the Planning & Codes site; whether a specific parcel must connect to a nearby water or sewer utility depends on that utility's own service-area rules, not confirmed at the county government level. 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)
3.6 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
1,352 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND

Weather1991-2020

Precipitation
51 in/yr
Snowfall
6 in/yr
Heating degree days
3,686 (moderate)
Frost-free season
Apr 5 to Nov 4

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital
Fort Loudoun Medical Center
0.3 mi
Fire station
Fire Station Number 14
4.3 mi
Hardware store
Ace Hardware
6.1 mi
Grocery
Food City
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 37771).

Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt

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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.