Bolthole Index

Tennessee · Off-grid & homestead potential

Union County

69Index Score / 100
#43 of 95 in Tennessee

Union County scores 69/100 on the Bolthole Index, a strong county profile. Its strengths are manageable long-term carry cost and mixed durability signals. The trade-offs: more administrative friction around building and land use.

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County locator

Union County in Tennessee

69
County map
Union County highlighted among the Tennessee counties · colored by Index score

How Union County scores

Seclusion46100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency63100% ev.
Admin Boringness4290% ev.
Durability76100% ev.
Property Autonomy71100% ev.
Carry Cost84100% ev.

Evidence strength: 98%. This reports direct-source completeness and fallback use; it is separate from the score and is not a confidence interval. How it works →

$299kTypical home
0.4%Property tax
$4,605Land / acre
53.2"Annual rain
1.9% of yrsSevere drought
3.6 / yr (+3.4)Mid-century 100°F days
13 daysMid-century dry spell
2.12" (+11.7%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.71×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
$1,450Home insurance / yr
-1.5% / yrInsurance growth
0.93%Nonrenewal rate
county median (2+ published ZIPs)Insurance basis
23,132People within 30 min
2,023,136People within 2 hr
77,946Radius comparison (15 mi)
92.8People / sq mi
8.2%Federal land
21.9%Land at 15% slope or less
11.4%Septic soil without severe limits
14,491 acWorkable land screen
70.2%Wooded land
64.2 tonsBiomass / forest ac
57°FAvg temp

Scout Union County

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Property hunt

Find land. Bring the promising ones back.

Search live inventory elsewhere, then cost and vet each candidate here. No copied listings, account, or paid data feed.

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A planning estimate, not a valuation or contractor quote. The USDA benchmark includes farm land and buildings; it is context, not a parcel comp.

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Building & land-use rules in Union County

What it takes to build here — permits, zoning, and septic — scouted from Union County’s own official sources.

  • Building permitRequired

    The Union County Assessor of Property office states all building permits for Union County must be purchased in that office and that selling building permits for new construction is one of its duties.

    Union County Assessor of Property ↗
  • County zoningYes

    Union County has an adopted zoning resolution and subdivision regulations and maintains a Planning & Zoning Coordinator.

    Union County Subdivision Regulations ↗
  • Septic permittingTennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC)

    In Tennessee, subsurface sewage disposal (septic) permits are administered by the state agency TDEC.

    TDEC - Subsurface Sewage Disposal Systems (SSDS) ↗
  • Owner-builderNot published

    Not published on an official source — confirm with the county.

  • Building inspectionsNot published

    Not published on an official source — confirm with the county.

  • Occupancy certificateNot published

    Not published on an official source — confirm with the county.

  • Septic permitNot published

    Not published on an official source — confirm with the county.

  • Septic inspectionNot published

    Not published on an official source — confirm with the county.

  • Off-grid sanitationNot published

    Not published on an official source — confirm with the county.

Always confirm current rules with Union County Assessor of Property / Planning & Zoning before you buy or build. Scouted Aug 2026 from official county sources.

Living off-grid in Union County, Tennessee

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

Union County scores 69/100 on the Bolthole Index, a strong county profile. Its strengths: manageable long-term carry cost and mixed durability signals. Watch-outs: more administrative friction around building and land use.

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

Union County generally requires a residential building permit, and it enforces county zoning. Onsite septic is permitted by Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC). Rules change and cities within the county differ — always confirm with the county before you buy or build.

How much does land cost in Union County, Tennessee?

Land in Union County runs about $4,605 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in Union County?

Union County gets about 53.2" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 1.9% of years.

How remote is Union County?

A representative private-land location has about 23,132 people within a 30-minute drive and 2,023,136 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 Union County means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

WaterCrystal QuestFilter any source — well, rain, or creek — to drinking-clean.PowerBluettiSolar generators and home battery backup for living off the grid.

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How Union compares in Tennessee

Compare side-by-side →See all 95 Tennessee counties ranked →