Bolthole Index county-legal census · checked 2026-09-12
2 of Tennessee's 95 counties — 2% — allow tiny homes as a dwelling. That is the 7th-largest count of any state. The strongest of them on the Bolthole Index is Lewis County (81/100). Every entry below cites the county’s own official source.
Rules change, and cities inside these counties set their own — treat this as a verified starting point, not legal advice. All 269 counties nationwide → Tennessee: no building codes → Tennessee: no zoning → Tennessee: no codes, no zoning → Tennessee: owner-builder → Tennessee: no minimum home size → Full Tennessee profile →
2 of 95 Tennessee counties · sorted by Index score
Statewide rule. A non-ready-removable tiny-home-type structure intended for residential use in Lewis County where it meets the State Fire Marshal's criteria for treatment as a o…
Public Guidance: Ready-Removables and Non-Traditional Homes ↗Statewide rule. Tiny homes and similar structures approved through Tennessee's Commissioner’s Inspection Program for permanent residential use, including in Overton County subje…
Tennessee State Agencies Celebrate Opening of Knoxville Modular Tiny Home Community ↗Every county here has a full profile — water, land prices, hazard safety, seclusion, and the rest of its building rules. See the Tennessee state page for all 95 counties ranked, or go back to the national list.
General guidance, not legal advice. Off-grid, building, and land-use rules are often set at the county level and change often. Verify with your county and state before acting. Data reviewed 2026-06-26.
