Off-grid site report

Jefferson County, TN

36.1272, -83.4693 · 1,125 ft elevation

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

Zoning & raw-land occupancy

RestrictedJefferson County has adopted countywide zoning since 1998, administered by the Regional Planning Commission, with setbacks varying by district and only one dwelling allowed per parcel. Recent amendments require suitable building sites and road access, which can affect remote land. source

Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs

Varies locallyThe county publishes specific tiny home guidance and permits mobile homes under certain conditions, but ad hoc full-time RV living outside a permitted RV park appears to run afoul of zoning. source

Building permits & codes

RestrictedJefferson County adopted the International Building and Residential Codes and requires permits for nearly all non-portable structures; septic approval must be secured before a building permit is issued. source

Septic & composting toilets

RestrictedThe county's Environmental Health Department issues septic permits required for any new construction, with a defined staking and plat/soil documentation process. No local composting-toilet exemption was found; the state NSF Standard 41 baseline likely applies but is not confirmed for local exceptions. source

Greywater reuse

Unclear - verifyNo Jefferson County-specific greywater rule was found; it likely falls back to Tennessee's state plumbing code baseline, but county enforcement is not confirmed. Ask the Environmental Health Department directly.

Rainwater harvesting

Generally allowedNo county ordinance restricts rainwater harvesting; this appears to follow Tennessee's generally permissive state baseline, though tying a system into home plumbing would trigger building code review.

Private wells & water rights

Generally allowedNo Jefferson County ordinance restricts private wells; drilling still requires a state-licensed well driller under Tennessee's Water Well Act. Several utility districts also serve parts of the county as an alternative.

Living disconnected from utilities

Varies locallyNo countywide rule forces connection to electric or water utilities, but a permitted septic system is still mandatory for any habitable structure regardless of grid status. Incorporated towns like Jefferson City regulate utility connections more actively than the unincorporated county. 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): 3.2 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels: 1,363 kWh

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Weather1991-2020

Precipitation: 46 in/yr
Snowfall: 5 in/yr
Heating degree days: 4,537 (moderate)
Frost-free season: Apr 29 to Oct 14

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital Jefferson Memorial Hospital: 3.1 mi
Fire station Jefferson City Fire Department: 1.7 mi
Hardware store Lowe's: 0.3 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 37760).

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.