Off-grid site report

McMinn County, TN

35.4003, -84.5607 · 824 ft elevation

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

Zoning & raw-land occupancy

Varies locallyMcMinn County land use control runs mainly through the Regional Planning Commission's subdivision/plat regulations rather than a comprehensive zoning map; general raw-land use restrictions outside platted subdivisions are not confirmed. Incorporated towns like Athens and Etowah have their own separate zoning. source

Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs

Varies locallyThe county has a specific Mobile Home/RV resolution regulating placement density and requiring an approved wastewater method; site-built tiny homes under state Appendix Q rules aren't addressed in official county materials found. source

Building permits & codes

Unclear - verifyThe county's permit portal lists electrical, septic, and floodplain permits as required; whether McMinn enforces the state residential building code generally is not confirmed from official sources, so confirm directly with the county. source

Septic & composting toilets

RestrictedMcMinn County does not run its own septic program, so TDEC's Division of Water Resources and the local Environmental Field Office fully administer septic permitting under the state baseline, with no dry-cabin exemption. source

Greywater reuse

Unclear - verifyNo McMinn County-specific greywater ordinance was found; this inherits the state baseline, which technically permits reuse but has limited enforcement clarity.

Rainwater harvesting

Generally allowedNo McMinn County restriction was found; this inherits the state baseline, which is unrestricted for rainwater collection.

Private wells & water rights

Generally allowedPrivate wells are governed by the state Water Well Act and drilled by state-licensed drillers; no additional McMinn County well permitting was found beyond the state system and TDEC field office support.

Living disconnected from utilities

Varies locallyNo county mandate to connect to public water or sewer on rural parcels was found, but the county's Mobile Home/RV resolution still requires an approved septic or treatment plant wastewater method for those placements even without a required public sewer hookup. 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): 3.5 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels: 1,333 kWh

JFMAMJJASOND

Weather1991-2020

Precipitation: 56 in/yr
Snowfall: 5 in/yr
Heating degree days: 3,952 (moderate)
Frost-free season: Apr 14 to Oct 27

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital Starr Regional Medical Center: 3.8 mi
Fire station Athens Fire Department: 4.1 mi
Hardware store Sloan's Hardware: 4.3 mi
Grocery Save-A-Lot: 3.0 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 37371).

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.