Off-grid site report

Bedford County, TN

35.5379, -86.5159 · 722 ft elevation

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

Zoning & raw-land occupancy

RestrictedBedford County has adopted its own zoning resolution and Planning Commission, unlike many no-zoning rural TN counties; zoning compliance is required before permits issue, per the Bedford County Office of Planning & Zoning. source

Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs

Unclear - verifyThe county requires a zoning permit for new structures including prefabricated ones, but no Bedford-specific statement on tiny-homes-on-wheels or IRC Appendix Q was found; not confirmed, so ask the county Building & Codes Department directly. source

Building permits & codes

RestrictedBedford County requires building permits for new residential and accessory structures, with mandatory inspections and a Certificate of Occupancy at completion, per the Building & Codes Department. Specific setbacks are listed on the county's permit application. source

Septic & composting toilets

RestrictedA septic permit from TDEC is required before plumbing-related building permits are issued in Bedford County; TDEC administers this under state law (Tennessee Code Title 68), not the county itself. source

Greywater reuse

Unclear - verifyNo Bedford County-specific greywater ordinance or guidance was found; this is not confirmed at the county level, so check with the county or TDEC before installing a system.

Rainwater harvesting

Generally allowedNo Bedford County or Tennessee state restriction on rainwater collection was found in official sources.

Private wells & water rights

Generally allowedPrivate wells are licensed and regulated statewide by TDEC under the Tennessee Water Well Act; no separate Bedford County well permit was found on county forms. source

Living disconnected from utilities

Varies locallyDisconnecting from the electric grid appears unrestricted, but Bedford County's permitting process requires proof of a legal sewage disposal method and water availability before issuing a building permit, per the county zoning office. 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: 1,408 kWh

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Weather1991-2020

Precipitation: 56 in/yr
Snowfall: 3 in/yr
Heating degree days: 3,625 (moderate)
Frost-free season: Apr 11 to Oct 25

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital Vanderbilt Bedford Hospital: 4.2 mi
Fire station Shelbyville Fire Department Station 1: 4.8 mi
Hardware store Lowe's: 4.0 mi
Grocery Piggly Wiggly: 3.7 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 37162).

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.