Bolthole Index

Greene County, Tennessee

Building permits, zoning and land rules in Greene County, Tennessee

66Index Score / 100
#65 of 95 in Tennessee

Unincorporated Greene County, Tennessee requires a building permit before excavation, construction, moving or alteration of a building, including an accessory building1. County zoning also controls land use, lot size and setbacks outside municipalities234. Apply online to TDEC for septic approval; the county office no longer accepts septic applications or payment56.

At a glance

Building permit
Required before covered work in unincorporated Greene County1
Zoning
Yes, for unincorporated territory; rules vary by district27
Septic permits
Required; submit the application and payment online to TDEC68
Owner-builder
Allowed for an owner's own home under Tennessee's conditions9
RV or tiny-home living
No countywide answer confirmed; ask about the parcel's zoning district2
Minimum lot size
Varies by district and use; septic requirements may require more land3
Agricultural buildings
A county permit exemption exists for qualifying agricultural structures1011

Who to call

Building permits

Greene County Building & Zoning Office

Building permits, zoning questions and construction inspections in unincorporated Greene County

423-798-1724

401 Takoma Ave, Suite 102 Greeneville, TN 37743

Septic permits

TDEC Division of Groundwater Protection — Greene County Septic System Construction

Septic applications, permits, site evaluations and inspections for Greene County

423-854-5400

2305 Silver Dale Drive, Johnson City, TN 37601

Online permits →

Planning & zoning

Greene County Planning Department

Subdivision plat review, development questions and planning support

(423) 798-1724

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on September 28, 2026.

Do you need a building permit in Greene County, Tennessee?

Yes. In unincorporated Greene County, a building permit must be issued before excavation, construction, moving or alteration of a building, including an accessory building1. Plans, the intended use, zoning, subdivision rules and applicable flood-zone requirements must conform before approval1. Greene County enforces the adopted International Building Code and International Residential Code with Appendix J12. Permitted projects move through zoning, footer, slab, rough-in, energy and final inspections, although the structure type can trigger other inspections13. The county issues a certificate of occupancy after the final inspection and before anyone occupies the structure14. A qualifying structure on agricultural land may be exempt from the county building permit, but the exemption has conditions and does not erase septic, subdivision, floodplain or state requirements1011.

Who handles Greene County building permits and inspections?

The Greene County Building & Zoning Office is the first stop for a project in unincorporated Greene County, and it takes permit and inspection questions during its published weekday hours15. A permit application calls for owner and applicant information, a telephone number, the property address, a building description, a site plan or sketch, staking, payment and an approved subdivision plat when applicable16. Contractors must provide their current state contractor license, workers' compensation papers and county business license16. The county issues permits at the site after the initial inspection and application approval16. For a land division, contact the Greene County Planning Department, which reviews subdivision plats and answers development questions17. A division covered by the county subdivision rules needs an approved plat before it can be filed or recorded18.

Does Greene County, Tennessee have zoning?

Yes. Greene County zoning applies in unincorporated territory, while incorporated municipalities may administer separate rules2. The county map uses agricultural, residential, business and industrial districts, so the parcel's district is the starting point for any land-use answer7. Minimum lot area varies by district and use, and a lot without sanitary sewer must also satisfy TDEC requirements3. Setbacks likewise change with the zoning district, road classification, structure type and lot conditions4. Building-height limits also depend on the applicable district and use19. Ask the Building & Zoning Office to identify the parcel's zoning district and applicable setbacks before positioning a house, driveway or accessory building15. If a proposed building falls under the county flood-zone resolution, the application must also meet the floodplain permitting requirements20.

How do septic permits work in Greene County?

A septic permit is required to construct, modify or repair a septic system in Greene County8. Submit the application and payment through TDEC's online septic portal because the county Environmental Health office says it can no longer accept them621. TDEC evaluates the site and may request a site plan or soils map8. After installation, the installer must arrange a final inspection before the system is covered; an approved system receives a Certificate of Completion22. Only about 18% of Greene County soils rate as free of severe limitations for a conventional drain field, so septic suitability can determine whether a parcel works for the planned home23. The statewide permit rule covers new systems and repairs, with the design and fee depending on system type and flow24.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Greene County?

We could not confirm one rule allowing long-term RV living on every private parcel in unincorporated Greene County. Ask the Building & Zoning Office about the parcel's mapped district, the proposed occupancy and utility connections before buying or moving an RV onto the land152. We also could not confirm a tiny-home-specific occupancy rule or a countywide minimum dwelling floor area. A tiny home used as a residence still faces the county's building-permit process, district land-use rules, setbacks and septic approval148. Manufactured and mobile homes have separate provisions, and placing multiple mobile homes for living or sleeping can trigger the county's permitted mobile-home-park rules25. Do not treat the agricultural-building exemption as permission for a residence; the state exemption is limited to a structure incidental to the agricultural enterprise11.

Building a home in Greene County: the steps, in order

  1. Ask the Greene County Building & Zoning Office to confirm the parcel's district, allowed use, setbacks, lot-size requirement and flood-zone status24320.
  2. Submit the septic application through TDEC and complete the site evaluation before fixing the house location68.
  3. Prepare the county permit materials, including the site plan or sketch, property address and any required subdivision plat16.
  4. Stake the property lines and proposed structure for the initial zoning inspection13.
  5. Complete the county's required construction inspections and arrange the septic final inspection before covering the system1322.
  6. Obtain the county certificate of occupancy after the building final and before moving in14.
  7. If the driveway enters a state highway right-of-way, obtain the required TDOT entrance permit26.

What should you check before buying land in Greene County?

Start with buildability, not the listing description. About 60% of Greene County land has a slope of 15% or less, while about 51% is wooded, so clearing, grading and driveway layout can change the usable homesite2728. Conventional septic suitability is a major filter because only about 18% of soils rate free of severe drain-field limitations23. Confirm zoning, setbacks, minimum lot area, floodplain status and whether an existing division was legally approved before closing342018. Greene County's effective property-tax rate is about 0.4%, and the median annual property-tax bill is about $8032930. For access on a state highway, include TDOT entrance approval in the due-diligence timeline26. We could not confirm a Greene County-specific private-well permit rule, so ask the Building & Zoning Office and TDEC what applies to the parcel1521.

Watch-outs

  • The county Environmental Health page says it no longer accepts septic applications or payments, so use TDEC's online portal instead621.
  • A septic installation must pass its final inspection before the system is covered22.
  • A qualifying farm structure can be permit-exempt, but floodplain, septic, subdivision and state requirements may still apply1011.

Sources

  1. Greene County Zoning Resolution, quoted and re-checked
  2. Greene County Zoning Resolution, quoted and re-checked
  3. Greene County Zoning Resolution, quoted and re-checked
  4. Greene County Zoning Resolution, quoted and re-checked
  5. TDEC - Subsurface Sewage Disposal Systems (SSDS) (2026 county census)
  6. Environmental Health, quoted and re-checked
  7. Greene County Zoning Resolution, quoted and re-checked
  8. SSDS Frequently Asked Questions, quoted and re-checked
  9. Can I build my own home without a license? (Tennessee statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  10. Greene County Zoning Resolution, quoted and re-checked
  11. Exemption from County Zoning Regulation for Buildings on Land Used for Agriculture, Opinion No. 22-07 (Tennessee statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  12. Building Safety / Codes, quoted and re-checked
  13. Building Safety / Codes, quoted and re-checked
  14. Building Safety / Codes, quoted and re-checked
  15. Greene County Building & Zoning Office (greenecountytngov.com)
  16. Board of Zoning / Building Commissioner, quoted and re-checked
  17. Greene County Planning Department (greenecountytngov.com)
  18. Greene County Subdivision Regulations, quoted and re-checked
  19. Greene County Zoning Resolution, quoted and re-checked
  20. Greene County Zoning Resolution, quoted and re-checked
  21. TDEC Division of Groundwater Protection — Greene County Septic System Construction (greenecountytngov.com)
  22. SSDS Frequently Asked Questions, quoted and re-checked
  23. Share of soils without severe limits for a conventional septic drain field (USDA SSURGO): Bolthole Index county data
  24. Septic System Construction Permit (Tennessee statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  25. Greene County Zoning Resolution, quoted and re-checked
  26. Highway Entrance Permits (Tennessee statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  27. Share of land at 15% slope or less: Bolthole Index county data
  28. Wooded share of land: Bolthole Index county data
  29. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  30. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data

Written September 28, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

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County locator

Greene County in Tennessee

66
County map
Greene County highlighted among the Tennessee counties · colored by Index score

How Greene County scores

Seclusion31100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency75100% ev.
Admin Boringness46100% ev.
Durability83100% ev.
Property Autonomy71100% ev.
Carry Cost81100% ev.

Evidence strength: 100%. This reports direct-source completeness and fallback use; it is separate from the score and is not a confidence interval. How it works →

$256kTypical home
0.4%Property tax
$6,423Land / acre
46.7"Annual rain
0.8% of yrsSevere drought
3.6 / yr (+3.5)Mid-century 100°F days
11.6 daysMid-century dry spell
1.61" (+10.7%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.67×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
$1,282Home insurance / yr
-0.2% / yrInsurance growth
0.65%Nonrenewal rate
county median (2+ published ZIPs)Insurance basis
139,416People within 30 min
2,736,412People within 2 hr
92,648Radius comparison (15 mi)
116.7People / sq mi
3%Federal land
60.2%Land at 15% slope or less
18.1%Septic soil without severe limits
69,673 acWorkable land screen
50.5%Wooded land
57.3 tonsBiomass / forest ac
57.4°FAvg temp

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Answers from the rulebook for Greene County

What the ordinances and state agencies actually say — one answer per question, each quoted from the official source and independently re-checked.

Greene County rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Excavation, construction, moving, or alteration of buildings, including accessory buildings, in areas governed by the county zoning resolution.

    • A building permit must be issued by the building commissioner before work commences.
    • No building permit or regulation applies to erection, construction, or reconstruction on land devoted to or used for agriculture.
    • Plans, specifications, intended use, zoning, subdivision, and applicable flood-zone requirements must conform.
    “alteration of any building, including accessory buildings, until the building commissioner has issued for such work a building permit including a statement that the plans, specifications and intended use of such building in all respects conform with the provision of this ordinance.”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    County-administered construction-code enforcement.

    • The county page identifies the 2018 International Building Code and 2018 International Residential Code with Appendix J.
    “Greene County has adopted the 2018 Edition of the International Building Code and the 2018 Edition of the International Residential Code with Appendix J.”
  • InspectionsRequired

    Permitted construction subject to Greene County building-code inspections.

    • Listed inspections include zoning, footer, slab, rough-in, energy, and building final inspections.
    • Other inspections may be required depending on structure type.
    • A minimum 18-inch staking requirement is stated for zoning inspection.
    “Required Permit Inspections [...] Zoning Inspection – Setbacks, Zoning and Use. Property lines and structure must be staked with a minimum of 18″ stakes. [...] Building Final Inspection – After structure is completed. 911 address must be permanently posted, plainly visible and legible from the street or road fronting the property”
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    Occupancy of structures subject to the county building inspection process.

    • The certificate is issued after the final inspection and before occupancy.
    “Certificate of Occupancy – Will be issued after the final inspection is completed prior to occupancy.”
  • County-wide zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Zoning in Greene County's unincorporated territory.

    • The cited resolution expressly applies to unincorporated territory; incorporated municipalities may administer separate zoning rules.
    “A resolution establishing zone districts within the unincorporated territory of Greene County, Tennessee regulating the uses of property therein, adopting a map of said districts,”
  • Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

    Mapped zoning districts in unincorporated Greene County.

    • The resolution was adopted in August 1984 and updated through December 2015.
    • Listed districts include A-1, A-2, R-1, R-2, B-1, B-2, B-3, M-1, and M-2.
    “For the purpose of this ordinance, Greene County, Tennessee is hereby divided into nine (9) classes of districts as follows: A-1 - General Agriculture District A-2 - Agriculture-Residential District R-1 - Low Density Residential District R-2 - Medium Density Residential District B-1 - Neighborhood Business District B-2 - General Business District”
  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    Residential and other uses in county zoning districts.

    • Requirements vary by district and use.
    • Examples include A-1 single-family minimum one-half acre, A-2 single-family minimum one acre, R-1 single-family minimum one-half acre, and R-2 single-family minimum one-half acre.
    • Where not served by sanitary sewer, lot size must also conform to TDEC requirements and cannot be below county minimums.

    A-1 single-family minimum lot area: >= 0.5 acre · A-2 single-family minimum lot area: >= 1 acre · R-1 single-family minimum lot area: >= 0.5 acre · R-2 single-family minimum lot area: >= 0.5 acre

    “Minimum required lot area for single-family detached structures....½ acre.”
  • SetbacksSpecified

    Building setbacks in county zoning districts.

    • Setbacks vary by district, road classification, structure type, and lot conditions.
    • Examples include A-1 front setbacks of 50 feet on arterial roads and 55 feet from road centerline or 30 feet from right-of-way edge, whichever is greater, for other roads; R-1 side yard 12 feet; and R-2 rear yard 25 feet and side yard 10 feet.

    A-1 arterial front setback: 50 feet · R-1 side yard setback: 12 feet · R-2 rear yard setback: 25 feet · R-2 side yard setback: 10 feet

    “For all other road classifications ............................................55 feet from the road centerline or 30 feet from the edge of the right-of-way, whichever is greater.”
  • Building heightSpecified

    Building height in county zoning districts.

    • Height limits vary by district and use; no single countywide numeric maximum was established.
    • The resolution prohibits exceeding the height limit applicable to the district.
    “No building or structure shall hereafter be erected or altered so as to exceed the height limit, to accommodate or house a greater number of families, to have narrower or smaller front yards or side yards than are required or specified in the regulations herein for the district in which it is located.”
  • Manufactured homesLimited

    Manufactured and mobile homes in the county planning region.

    • Mobile-home parks require permits and must comply with park standards.
    • A mobile-home park must contain at least two acres and no more than fifty mobile homes.
    • Public water supply, approved sanitary sewer conditions, access, buffers, density, and other standards apply.
    • Without public wastewater, minimum space areas are 7,500 square feet for single-wide and 10,000 square feet for double-wide homes unless higher density is approved after soils testing.

    mobile home park minimum area: >= 2 acres · mobile home park maximum homes: <= 50 homes · minimum space area without public wastewater, single-wide: >= 7500 square feet · minimum space area without public wastewater, double-wide: >= 10000 square feet

    “It shall be unlawful for any person to place or maintain two or more mobile homes for living or sleeping purposes on any premises or tract of land in Greene County within the Greene County Planning Region unless they be contained within a planned mobile home park duly permitted and pursuant to the provisions of these regulations.”
  • Who permits septicMixed (with conditions)

    Septic permitting and environmental-health administration in Greene County.

    • Greene County states that TDEC administers the rules and that county staff cannot accept applications and payment, while the same page states that the county issues septic permits.
    “We have been notified by the State of Tennessee effective immediately that our department can no longer accept applications and payment for septic permits, subdivision evaluations, water samples, inspection letters, or any other type of services offered thru the Water Resources Services Department. You must apply online at tdec.tn.gov/septic. [...] Lastly, we do issue permits for Septic Systems within the County.”
  • Agricultural exemptionAvailable (with conditions)

    Agricultural buildings and structures on land devoted to or used for agriculture.

    • The zoning resolution states that no building permit is required and no regulation applies to erection, construction, or reconstruction of a building or structure on agricultural land.
    • Other requirements, including septic, subdivision, floodplain, or state rules, may still apply.
    “However no building permit shall be required and there shall be no regulation of the erection, construction, or reconstruction of any building, or other structure on land now devoted to agriculture uses or which may hereafter be used for agriculture purposes.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivisions within the Greene County Planning Region.

    • Subdivision means division of a tract or parcel less than five acres into two or more lots, sites, or divisions for sale or building development.
    • A plat must be submitted and approved before filing or recording.
    • Final plats require applicable Division of Groundwater Protection approval and signature.

    subdivision threshold: < 5 acres (two or more lots, sites, or divisions for sale or building development)

    “These regulations shall govern all subdivision of land within the planning region of Greene County as now or hereafter established, and within the Greene County Planning Region as established by resolution of the State of Tennessee Local Planning Assistance Office.”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    Buildings, additions, or installations falling under the Greene County flood-zone resolution.

    • Applicants must interpret FEMA or other flood-zone maps for staking.
    • The building commissioner reviews applicable flood-zone requirements and may require amended applications or deny permits for noncompliance.
    “If the application is for a residential or commercial structure, addition, accessory building or for a double wide mobile home, single wide mobile home, or manufactured home, that once built, or installed as the case may be, will fall under the flood zone resolution, ensure that all permitting requirements set forth in the flood zone resolution are met”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    County building-permit application process.

    • Application requires owner information, applicant name, telephone number, 911 address, approved subdivision plat when applicable, building description, site plan or sketch, staked property lines and structure, and payment.
    • Contractors must provide current state contractor license, workers compensation papers, and county business license.
    • Permits are issued on site after initial inspection and application approval.
    “All permits are issued on site when an initial inspection is completed and application is approved.”

Tennessee rules that apply here

  • Owner-builder exemptionConditional

    A Tennessee property owner constructing a single residence for the owner's individual use.

    • The owner may have one permit every two years.
    • The residence must not be for sale, lease, or rent.
    • If the owner hires a contractor, the contractor is a prime and must be licensed and obtain the building permit for inspections.
    • Contracts may not be split into phases to circumvent the licensing law.
    • Anyone paid more than $25,000 by the owner is considered a prime and must be licensed.
    • The exemption is based on TCA 62-6-103 and Rule 0680-1-.22.

    owner permits: per 1 permit per two years · contractor payment threshold: > 25000 USD (Anyone paid in excess of this amount is considered a prime and must be licensed.)

    “one permit every two years to build their home as long as it is not for sale, lease, or rent (individual use).”
  • Septic permitRequired

    Installation of a subsurface sewage disposal system on property in Tennessee, and repair of an existing faulty system.

    • A Septic System Construction Permit is required before installation or repair.
    • The application requires site and system information; soils maps may be required and large conventional or alternative systems require a licensed-engineer design.
    • The review generally takes 10 days and must be completed within 45 days.
    • New conventional permit fee is $400 up to 1,000 gallons per day, plus $100 for each additional 1,000 gallons per day.
    • New alternative permit fee is $500 up to 1,000 gallons per day, plus $150 for each additional 1,000 gallons per day.
    • Experimental SSDS permit fee is $500.
    • Repair permits have no permit fee; repair construction inspection fee is $100.
    • Contract counties Blount, Davidson, Hamilton, Jefferson, Knox, Madison, Sevier, Shelby, and Williamson may require an additional permit.

    new conventional SSDS permit fee: 400 USD up to 1000 gallons per day design flow ($100 for each additional 1000 gpd flow) · new alternative SSDS permit fee: 500 USD up to 1000 gallons per day design flow ($150 for each additional 1000 gpd flow) · experimental SSDS permit fee: 500 USD · repair permit fee: No permit fee

    “Any individual or property owner who desires to have a subsurface sewage disposal (septic) system installed on their property or requiring repair to an existing faulty system must get a Septic System Construction Permit.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Required — Construction, modification, or repair of septic systems in Tennessee, including Greene County.
      “A septic system permit is required for the construction, modification or repair of a septic system.”
  • Septic inspectionRequired

    Septic installations in Greene County subject to TDEC approval.

    • Final inspection occurs before the system is covered.
    • If approved, the Environmental Scientist issues a Certificate of Completion.
    “When installation is complete, the installer will contact the local Environmental Scientist to schedule a final inspection before the system is covered. If the septic system installation is approved, the Environmental Scientist will issue a Certificate of Completion.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

    Residential, commercial, or industrial buildings on lots or parcels abutting a street or other public way containing a sanitary sewer, where the applicable Tennessee utility system has issued bonds payable for sewer services.

    • The cited Tennessee statute grants qualifying utility systems authority to require connection.
    • The building must exist on the abutting lot or parcel.
    • The owner, tenant, or occupant may be required to cease using other means for disposal of sewage, sewage waste, or other polluting matter.
    • This source describes authority to require sewer connection; it does not establish that every Tennessee property has sewer available.
    “Utility systems within the State of Tennessee that have issued bonds payable for sewer services are granted authority in TCA § 7-35-201 (1) to "require the owner tenant or occupant of each lot or parcel of land that abuts upon a street or other public way containing a sanitary sewer and upon which lot or parcel a building exists for residential, commercial or industrial use, to connect the building with the sanitary sewer and to cease to use any other means for the disposal of sewage, sewage waste or other polluting matter."”
  • Driveway accessLimited

    Construction, modification, revision, or change in use of a driveway on Tennessee state highway right-of-way.

    • The requirement applies to state highway right-of-way and does not establish a permit requirement for every driveway on every road.
    • Property owners must obtain the permit from TDOT.
    • County or municipal land-use regulations may also apply.
    “Under state law, a permit is required before construction of a driveway on state highway right-of-way, including the modification, revision, or change in use”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    Residential building permits administered by Tennessee's State Residential Building Code Enforcement Program for one- and two-family dwellings and townhouses where the state program applies.

    • The state program does not apply where a local government enforces local building codes under an exemption or where the city or county has opted out by a two-thirds vote.
    • For construction costs above the maximum listed in the table, an additional fee of $50.00 applies for each additional $50,000 or fraction thereof.
    • The construction cost cannot be less than $60.57 per heated square foot of construction.
    • An HVAC and Plumbing Inspection is required for all new construction.
    • A slab other than Monolith Pour Inspection is required when slab and footing are cast separately.

    permit fee for construction cost $0 to $5,000: 100 USD · permit fee for construction cost $5,001 to $100,000: 350 USD · additional fee for plumbing and HVAC inspection: 100 USD (Applicable as stated in the fee table.) · additional fee for slab other than monolith pour: 100 USD (Applicable when slab and footing are cast separately.)

    “$0 to $5,000 | $100 | $100 | $100 $5,001 to $100,000 | $350 | $100 | $100”
  • county zoning authorityGeneral

    County legislative bodies adopting zoning regulations for portions of Tennessee counties outside municipal corporations.

    • The authority is exercised under the conditions and procedures in Tennessee Code Annotated §§ 13-7-101 through 13-7-119.
    • The grant applies to portions of counties outside municipal corporations.
    • County zoning authority does not authorize county building permits or regulation of buildings or structures on agricultural land when the building or structure is incidental to the agricultural enterprise, except on agricultural lands adjacent or in proximity to state federal-aid highways, public airports or public parks.
    • The agricultural-land limitation applies to counties only and has no application to municipalities.
    “Under Tenn. Code Ann. § 13-7-101, et seq., the General Assembly has expressly delegated the authority to county legislative bodies to enact zoning regulations and create a board of zoning appeals.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission — ask the county directly.

  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling floor area.
  • Lot coverage — Maximum lot coverage or lot occupancy.
  • Living in an RV — Long-term or permanent RV occupancy on private land.
  • Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy.
  • Accessory dwellings — Accessory dwelling units.
3 more unanswered
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Short-term rentals

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.

Living off-grid in Greene County, Tennessee

Is Greene County a good place to live off-grid or homestead?

Greene County scores 66/100 on the Bolthole Index, a strong county profile. Its strengths: mixed durability signals and manageable long-term carry cost. Watch-outs: about 139,416 people within a 30-minute drive.

Do you need a building permit in Greene County, Tennessee?

Greene County generally requires a residential building permit, and it enforces county zoning. Onsite septic is permitted by Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC), Subsurface Sewage Disposal Systems program. Owner-builders may act as their own contractor to build their home. These answers are quoted from official sources and independently re-checked. Rules change and cities within the county differ — always confirm with the county before you buy or build.

How much does land cost in Greene County, Tennessee?

Land in Greene County runs about $6,423 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in Greene County?

Greene County gets about 46.7" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 0.8% of years.

How remote is Greene County?

A representative private-land location has about 139,416 people within a 30-minute drive and 2,736,412 within two hours. The road-network catchments count population across county lines and clusters of smaller cities; straight-line radius values remain available as a comparison.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Greene County means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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How Greene compares in Tennessee

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