Off-grid site report
Greene County, TN
36.1871, -82.7611 · 1,532 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Greene 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 rulesGreene County, TN
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Varies locallyGreene County has an adopted county-wide Zoning Resolution for unincorporated land, but property inside Greeneville's town limits or Urban Growth Boundary instead follows the Town of Greeneville's own zoning ordinance. Confirm which jurisdiction applies to your parcel with the county Zoning & Building office. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyNo official Greene County page specifically addresses tiny homes, Appendix Q, or RV dwelling classification. Not confirmed; ask the county Zoning & Building office.
Building permits & codes
RestrictedGreene County requires building permits for construction outside Greeneville's corporate limits (with an agricultural exception), and the county has adopted the International Building Code. The county Zoning and Building Office administers this. source
Septic & composting toilets
RestrictedSeptic permitting is now handled through the state's TDEC online portal rather than the county office directly, though Greene County's Environmental Health department operates under TDEC's subsurface sewage disposal rules and can help route applications. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNo Greene County-specific greywater rule was found; this inherits Tennessee's general and inconsistently enforced state baseline.
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedNo county ordinance restricts rainwater collection; this follows Tennessee's generally permissive state baseline.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedWells are allowed, but drilling or well-pump work must be done by a Tennessee state-licensed well driller. Greene County Environmental Health offers optional bacteriological water testing. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Varies locallyNo county-specific rule was found on disconnecting from utilities; this follows the state baseline where electric disconnection is unrestricted but water/sewer disconnection can be more complicated near municipal service.
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
- 1,338 kWh
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Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 43 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 9 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 4,235 (moderate)
- Frost-free season
- Apr 22 to Oct 20
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Greeneville Community Hospital - 1.9 mi
- Fire station
Greeneville Fire Department #2 - 5.5 mi
- Hardware store
Lowe's - 1.2 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 37616).
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.