Rainwater harvesting is fully legal in Davidson County. Tennessee has no state-level restriction on residential collection. Metro Water Services encourages rain barrels and offers occasional rebate programs.
Tennessee imposes no state-level restriction on rainwater collection for residential use. In Metro Nashville, rain barrels, cisterns, and harvesting systems for garden irrigation, lawn care, and non-potable uses are fully permitted without special permit for small residential systems. Larger cistern installations (typically over 500 gallons or requiring plumbing connection to house) trigger Metro Codes plumbing permit. Metro Water Services historically offered rain barrel workshops and subsidized programs — the Cumberland River Compact partners on education. Potable indoor use requires filtration and backflow prevention. Harvesting reduces stormwater impact, relevant given Nashville's flash flood history (2010 flood).
No penalties for standard residential collection. Large cistern without plumbing permit: building code violation, $50 to $500. Cross-connection to potable without backflow: health/plumbing violation.
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