Off-grid site report

Giles County, TN

35.2034, -87.0601 · 656 ft elevation

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

Zoning & raw-land occupancy

Varies locallyGiles County has no countywide zoning outside the FEMA floodplain overlay and subdivision standards, per the Regional Planning Commission; incorporated towns like Pulaski have their own separate zoning. source

Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs

Unclear - verifyNo official Giles County page specifically addresses tiny homes, park models, or RVs as dwellings; the state residential permit page implies standard code applies to conventional construction. Confirm with the County Clerk or Planning Commission. source

Building permits & codes

RestrictedA state residential building permit, issued through Tennessee's CORE system and processed via the Giles County Clerk, is required for new residential construction or square-footage additions in unincorporated areas; sheds and barns not used as living space are exempt. source

Septic & composting toilets

RestrictedTDEC sets statewide septic design and permitting rules, administered locally through the Giles County Health Department; TDEC has issued violations in the county for missing systems, so any habitable dwelling needs one regardless of grid status. source

Greywater reuse

Unclear - verifyNo Giles County page addresses greywater specifically; state plumbing code technically allows subsurface-irrigation reuse, but confirm enforcement with the county health department before installing.

Rainwater harvesting

Generally allowedNo Giles County ordinance restricts rainwater collection; confirm any household plumbing tie-in with the county health department.

Private wells & water rights

Generally allowedPrivate wells are regulated by TDEC's statewide construction standards (casing depth, diameter, materials); no Giles-specific well ordinance was found, and utility districts don't restrict wells outside their service areas. source

Living disconnected from utilities

Varies locallyYou can disconnect from electric service freely since there's no zoning trigger for occupancy permits, but state law still requires a functioning septic system for any habitable structure, enforced locally by TDEC and the county health department. 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: 1,392 kWh

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Weather1991-2020

Precipitation: 56 in/yr
Snowfall: 2 in/yr
Heating degree days: 3,851 (moderate)
Frost-free season: Apr 12 to Oct 24

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital Southern Tennessee - Pulaski: 3.3 mi
Fire station Pulaski Fire Department, Fire Station One: 1.7 mi
Hardware store The Home Depot: 0.2 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 38478).

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.