Off-grid site report

Tipton County, TN

35.5443, -89.6644 · 377 ft elevation

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

Zoning & raw-land occupancy

RestrictedTipton County has a countywide Regional Zoning Resolution administered by the Regional Planning Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals, unlike many TN counties with no zoning; the town of Gilt Edge has its own separate ordinance.

Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs

Unclear - verifyThe zoning resolution regulates lot sizes, setbacks, and dwelling types by district and treats travel trailers/campgrounds separately, but no specific tiny-home or RV-as-residence policy was found; confirm with Planning & Development.

Building permits & codes

RestrictedTipton County's Building Inspector's Office issues all building permits and certificates of occupancy, and permits cannot be issued unless they conform to the zoning resolution or a BZA exception is granted. source

Septic & composting toilets

RestrictedState septic permits are issued through TDEC, but Tipton County's zoning resolution additionally requires county Environmentalist approval for any dwelling not served by public water or sewer, and the BZA can increase lot size requirements based on percolation results. source

Greywater reuse

Unclear - verifyNo Tipton County ordinance or health department page addressing greywater reuse was found; this defaults to the inconsistent state baseline, so ask the county Environmentalist directly.

Rainwater harvesting

Generally allowedNo county restriction on rainwater collection was found, and this inherits Tennessee's statewide position that rainwater harvesting is legal with no collection limits.

Private wells & water rights

Generally allowedWell drilling is governed by the state Water Well Act of 1963, requiring a state-licensed driller through TDEC's Well Driller Supervision Program; no county-specific well ordinance was found, and the state does not mandate private water testing. source

Living disconnected from utilities

Varies locallyDisconnecting from electric service is unrestricted, but Tipton County's zoning resolution requires county Environmentalist approval for any dwelling not served by public water or sewer, adding a local hurdle beyond state law.

Open the full county page with sources →

Sun30-year normals

Peak-sun hours, annual average: 5.1 hrs/day
Worst month (sizes an off-grid array): 3.6 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels: 1,438 kWh

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Weather1991-2020

Precipitation: 54 in/yr
Snowfall: 5 in/yr
Heating degree days: 3,695 (moderate)
Frost-free season: Mar 28 to Nov 7

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital Baptist Memorial Hospital - Tipton: 1.0 mi
Fire station Covington Fire Department South Station: 0.4 mi
Hardware store The Home Depot: 0.2 mi
Grocery Walmart Supercenter: 0.1 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 38019).

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.