Off-grid site report

Claiborne County, TN

36.5404, -83.9271 · 1,198 ft elevation
Read this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Claiborne 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 rulesClaiborne County, TN

Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Varies locallyClaiborne County has no general zoning ordinance for unincorporated land; the Planning Commission administers subdivision regulations instead. Incorporated towns like Tazewell or Harrogate may have their own zoning. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Unclear - verifyNo official county page addresses tiny homes, Appendix Q, or RV occupancy specifically; not confirmed, so ask the county building permit office directly.
Building permits & codes
RestrictedA 1967-68 Tennessee private act (Chapter 74) requires a county building permit before construction and occupancy in Claiborne County; the county administers this through its own building permits office. source
Septic & composting toilets
RestrictedThe county requires a septic permit before a building permit is issued, but septic permitting itself is handled by TDEC under state law (T.C.A. Title 68, Chapter 221), not a local health department. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNo Claiborne County-specific greywater rule was found; this appears to fall under general state plumbing code ambiguity. Ask the county building/septic office how they want it handled.
Rainwater harvesting
Generally allowedNo county ordinance restricting rainwater collection was found, consistent with Tennessee's generally permissive state stance.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedNo Claiborne County well ordinance was found; private wells are governed by the state Water Well Act through TDEC-licensed drillers. The Claiborne Utilities District provides public water/sewer/gas in parts of the county but doesn't regulate wells elsewhere.
Living disconnected from utilities
Varies locallyNo county-level ordinance mandating utility hookup was found; any such requirement would come from a specific town or utility district's own policy, not confirmed here. source

Open the full county page with sources →

Sun30-year normals

Peak-sun hours, annual average
4.7 hrs/day
Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
3.4 hrs/day
Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
1,282 kWh
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Weather1991-2020

Precipitation
50 in/yr
Heating degree days
4,409 (moderate)
Frost-free season
Apr 21 to Oct 22

How far help isstraight-line

Hospital
Middlesboro ARH Hospital
11.3 mi
Fire station
Middlesboro Fire Department Station 1
12.7 mi
Hardware store
Buck's Jellico Hardware
11.5 mi
Grocery
Save-A-Lot
11.6 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 37715).

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.