Off-grid site report

Haywood County, TN

35.6017, -89.2471 · 371 ft elevation
Read this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Haywood 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 rulesHaywood County, TN

Zoning & raw-land occupancy
RestrictedHaywood County has an adopted Zoning Resolution administered by its Regional Planning Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals, covering use, density, height, and coverage countywide. This is a departure from many rural TN counties that have no zoning at all. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyNo official Haywood County page addresses tiny-house (Appendix Q) standards or long-term RV occupancy specifically; this likely falls back to the Tennessee state baseline where RVs are treated as temporary, not permanent, dwellings. Confirm directly with the Code Enforcement & Building Inspector's office. source
Building permits & codes
Generally allowedHaywood County adopted the 2018 International Building Codes and actively enforces them through its Code Enforcement & Building Inspector's office, which also handles mobile home placement. This county has not opted out of code enforcement. source
Septic & composting toilets
Unclear - verifyNo official Haywood County health/environmental page describes local septic permitting; the zoning resolution references a County Environmentalist role, but procedures are not confirmed locally. Applicants should confirm with TDEC's regional Division of Water Resources office. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNo Haywood County ordinance or health department page addresses greywater specifically; this falls back to TDEC/state plumbing code administration, and status there is not clearly confirmed either.
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedNo Haywood County restriction was found on rainwater harvesting; it is governed at the Tennessee state level with no additional county limitation identified.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedPrivate wells are legal under the Tennessee Water Well Act and must be drilled by a state-licensed driller; no Haywood County-specific override was found. Parts of the county are served by the Haywood County Utility District and Brownsville Energy Authority instead.
Living disconnected from utilities
Varies locallyNo Haywood County ordinance mandates utility hookup for rural/unincorporated parcels, so off-grid electricity looks unrestricted. Properties within the Haywood County Utility District or Brownsville Energy Authority service areas should confirm water/sewer hookup expectations directly with those utilities. 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
1,413 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND

Weather1991-2020

Precipitation
54 in/yr
Snowfall
4 in/yr
Heating degree days
3,505 (moderate)

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital
Lauderdale Community Hospital
19.7 mi
Fire station
Brownsville Fire Department
1.0 mi
Hardware store
Bells Hardware & Lumber
11.8 mi
Grocery
Walmart Supercenter
1.1 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 38012).

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.