Off-grid site report

Grainger County, TN

36.3075, -83.4431 · 1,184 ft elevation

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

Zoning & raw-land occupancy

Varies locallyGrainger County has no countywide zoning ordinance, per the county's own Planning Commission page; it only administers subdivision regulations under state law (TCA 13-3-401 to 13-3-411), covering all county land except inside Bean Station, Blaine, and Rutledge town limits, which may have their own zoning. source

Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs

Unclear - verifyNo official Grainger County or town page was found addressing tiny homes, RVs as dwellings, or the state residential code's Appendix Q. Confirm directly with the county and any relevant incorporated town.

Building permits & codes

Unclear - verifyNo official Grainger County government page describing a countywide building permit program or adopted building code was found; incorporated towns may issue their own permits, not independently confirmed. source

Septic & composting toilets

RestrictedSeptic systems in Grainger County fall under the state's TDEC Subsurface Sewage Disposal Program; some nearby county health departments have shifted septic permitting entirely to the state's online portal, and the same state authority governs regardless of local arrangement. source

Greywater reuse

Unclear - verifyNo Grainger County or town rule on greywater reuse was found; this defaults to the state plumbing code baseline, which allows limited subsurface irrigation reuse.

Rainwater harvesting

Generally allowedNo Grainger County ordinance restricting rainwater collection was found, and Tennessee state law does not restrict collection or non-potable use.

Private wells & water rights

Generally allowedNo Grainger County-specific well ordinance was found; wells are governed by the state Tennessee Water Well Act and must be drilled by a state-licensed well driller.

Living disconnected from utilities

Varies locallyNo official Grainger County source requires or exempts properties from connecting to public water or sewer; this appears to default to the state baseline, which does not compel hookups. source

Open the full county page with sources →

Sun30-year normals

Peak-sun hours, annual average: 4.9 hrs/day
Worst month (sizes an off-grid array): 3.4 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels: 1,323 kWh

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Weather1991-2020

Precipitation: 44 in/yr
Snowfall: 12 in/yr
Heating degree days: 3,937 (moderate)
Frost-free season: Apr 7 to Nov 4

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital Morristown-Hamblen Healthcare Center: 10.1 mi
Fire station Morristown Fire Department Station 4: 9.3 mi
Hardware store Lakeshore General Hardware: 7.4 mi
Grocery Ingles: 9.1 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 37861).

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.