Can you live off-grid in Campbell County, Tennessee?
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Significant challenges
Possible, but the steep ground will be hard. The ground is steep, with slopes averaging about 39%. That raises the cost of a driveway, septic, and foundation. Rain is plentiful, about 56 inches a year. Septic will likely cost more, because rock or a hard layer sits about 24 inches down.
What the land says
Rain
Rain can supply much of a household's water with a large tank. A garden mostly waters itself in normal years.
About 56 inches a year (PRISM, 1991 to 2020 average)
Wells
Typical well depth. Budget for a mid-range well.
The typical well here is about 200 feet deep; a well typically runs $9,000 to $21,000
Growing season
A full season for most vegetables.
About 200 frost-free days, USDA zone 7a; last frost about April 11, first about October 28
Sun
Good sun. Size the array and battery bank for winter.
About 4.8 hours of full sun a day, averaged over the year
Flood
Flood zones run along creeks and rivers here. Look up the parcel on FEMA's flood map.
FEMA maps flood zones within a quarter mile in places
Wildfire
Low wildfire risk.
U.S. Forest Service wildfire hazard map: Very Low to Moderate here
Storms
Hurricanes and strong tornadoes are rare here.
NOAA: no hurricane-strength storm within 50 miles since 1975; about 1 strong (EF2 or stronger) tornado a decade within 25 miles
Terrain
Steep. A flat house site and a driveway route will drive the cost.
Slopes average about 39%, about 1,520 feet above sea level
Soil
Expect a costlier septic system, because rock or a hard layer sits about 24 inches down. The county's soil test decides.
Loam, well drained (USDA soil survey). A mound, sand filter, or treatment unit typically runs $10,000 to $20,000
Road
Paved roads are close by.
Nearest paved road usually within about 0.7 miles (OpenStreetMap)
Check a Tennessee parcel, or plan the one you own
Get a free 0-100 off-grid score.
A step-by-step build plan, sizing your solar, water, garden, septic, heat, and buildings.
Is it legal here?
Zoning
Rural land here is often unzoned. Confirm with the county before you build.
Building code
Statewide residential code exists but counties and municipalities may opt out, and many have.
Rainwater
Collecting it is allowed.
Composting toilets
Allowed.
Water rights
Owners of land along a creek or lake can make reasonable use of its water.
Drilled to about 200 feet, with pump and pressure tank
Septic
$10,000 to $20,000
Mound, sand filter, or treatment unit
Solar and batteries
$18,000 to $34,000
Sized for a modest household
Road or driveway
$3,000 to $7,000
From the nearest road to a house site
Clearing
$1,000 to $3,000
A house site, solar, and garden
Total
$41,000 to $85,000
Before the house
Before you make an offer on land here
Soil test
Get a soil test before you count on septic.
Rock or a hard layer sits about 24 inches down, which can rule out a standard system.
Flood map
Look up the parcel on FEMA's flood map.
Flood zones run along creeks and rivers here. Building in one means flood insurance and extra permits.
Zoning
Confirm with the county whether the parcel is zoned.
Rural land in Tennessee is often unzoned.
Nearby counties
40,223 people live in Campbell County, about 83.8 per square mile. It ranks tied for 90th of the 95 Tennessee counties we scored, and Tennessee ranks 9th of 50 states.