Off-grid site report

Madison County, TN

35.6422, -88.8515 · 430 ft elevation

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

Zoning & raw-land occupancy

RestrictedMadison County has countywide zoning (Inner and Outer Region) administered by the Planning Department, and the Outer Region resolution requires Health Department/TDEC sign-off on water and sanitary plans before new construction proceeds. source

Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs

Unclear - verifyThe county enforces the 2018 IBC and IRC, but whether Appendix Q (tiny house provisions) was adopted is not confirmed; mobile homes must be registered with the County Clerk. Ask the Building & Codes Department directly. source

Building permits & codes

RestrictedBuilding and electrical permits are required countywide through the Madison County Building & Codes Department; a limited homeowner permit option exists with restrictions on frequency and property use. source

Septic & composting toilets

RestrictedMadison County is a state-designated 'contract county,' so the county Health Department's Environmental Health Section handles septic permitting locally, potentially with an added permit layer beyond the state process. No composting toilet exemption was found. source

Greywater reuse

Unclear - verifyNo county-specific greywater ordinance was found; the state plumbing code baseline presumably applies. Confirm with the county Health Department or Building Department.

Rainwater harvesting

Generally allowedNo Madison County restriction on rainwater harvesting was found, so the generally permissive Tennessee state baseline applies; connecting to household plumbing still triggers standard permit requirements. source

Private wells & water rights

Generally allowedMadison County Health Department issues its own well permits with siting distance requirements from structures and septic systems, layered on top of the state's Water Well Act driller licensing requirement. source

Living disconnected from utilities

Varies locallyNo county ordinance mandates grid, water, or sewer hookup, so disconnecting appears unrestricted, but any habitable structure likely still needs county sanitary/septic approval regardless of utility connection.

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: 1,370 kWh

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Weather1991-2020

Precipitation: 54 in/yr
Snowfall: 4 in/yr
Heating degree days: 3,594 (moderate)
Frost-free season: Apr 3 to Oct 30

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital Jackson-Madison County General Hospital: 1.2 mi
Fire station Fire Station Number 2: 2.0 mi
Hardware store Walt Mestan Co Inc: 0.7 mi
Grocery Kroger: 1.5 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 38302).

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.