Bolthole Index

Henry County, Georgia

Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Hampton, Georgia

Hampton, Georgia adopts and administers its own zoning ordinance inside city limits1. The city's code requires permits for pre-owned manufactured homes and the city issues certificates of occupancy2. Septic permits are a separate matter: in Henry County they come from the District 4 Public Health environmental health office3. Living in an RV on a lot is allowed only with an emergency RV permit4.

At a glance

Zoning
Hampton adopts and administers its own zoning ordinance inside city limits1
Building permit
Permit required for pre-owned manufactured homes; the city's general permit rules were not confirmed2
Minimum home size
2,200 sq ft of heated space in R-1 and in RA56
Minimum lot
1 acre in R-1; in RA, 3 acres for agricultural uses and 1 acre for other uses78
RV living
Only with an emergency RV permit, in RA and R-14
Septic
Permit from District 4 Public Health, Henry County environmental health, for homes on septic9

Who to call

Septic permits

District 4 Public Health - Environmental Health (Henry County)

Septic (onsite sewage) permits, inspections and well location permits for Henry County

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 17, 2026.

Off-grid gear

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

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Does Hampton, GA have zoning, and what does it mean for RVs, lot size and setbacks?

Yes. Hampton adopts and administers its own zoning ordinance, Appendix A of the city code, for land inside city limits1. Rules differ by district, so check the parcel's district first.

In the R-1 Single-Family Residential District, the minimum lot is 1 acre with 150 feet of width7. Setbacks are 50 feet front, 20 feet side, 37 feet on a side street and 40 feet rear10. Height tops out at 35 feet11.

In the RA Residential-Agricultural District, the minimum lot is 3 acres for agricultural uses and 1 acre for other uses, with 200 feet of width8. Setbacks are 75 feet front, 20 feet side, 55 feet on a side street and 40 feet rear12. Both districts require a house of at least 2,200 square feet of heated space56, which rules out most tiny homes. We could not confirm a separate tiny-home rule; ask the city's Community Development Department.

Do you need a building permit in Hampton, and who issues it?

Hampton's code requires a permit to locate a pre-owned manufactured home in the city2. Applicants provide an affidavit, photographs, a refundable bond or cash deposit and the permit and inspection fee13. The applicant then arranges an inspection once installation is complete14, and a certificate of occupancy follows when the building inspector certifies the requirements are met15.

We could not confirm the city's general building permit rules, its permit fee schedule or which building code it adopts. Ask Hampton's Community Development Department before you plan a build. The county's residential permit process16 applies to unincorporated Henry County, not to land inside Hampton; see the Henry County page for that.

Can you live in an RV on your land in Hampton, GA?

Only briefly. No RV may be used for living, sleeping or housekeeping on a lot in any Hampton zoning district except under an approved emergency RV permit from the city's Community Development Department4. The permit is limited to RA and R-1 districts, for a catastrophic event or while a primary dwelling is built on a property of at least 5 acres with a valid residential permit4. It lasts up to 30 consecutive days with one extension of up to 30 days4.

RV parks are allowed only in the RA district with conditional use approval17. Overnight camping in city parks is not permitted18.

How do septic permits work for a Hampton address?

Georgia requires a County Health Department construction permit before an on-site sewage management system is installed19. In Henry County, District 4 Public Health environmental health offices administer those permits and inspections3. A favorable site inspection comes first, and final inspection and written approval are required before backfilling or using the system19. Permits stay valid up to 12 months20.

We could not confirm whether Hampton requires sewer connection for a given lot, or how sewer-served lots are handled. Ask the city, and call the District 4 Henry County office before buying a lot you expect to put on septic3. Soils help: about 72% of the county's soils rate as not limited for a conventional drain field21, but that is a county figure, so a site evaluation still decides.

What about floodplain, wells and the steps to build in Hampton?

Inside the future-conditions floodplain, Hampton requires the lowest floor at least 3 feet above base flood elevation, or one foot above future-conditions flood elevation if higher22. RVs there must be on site fewer than 180 consecutive days and ready for highway use, or meet residential requirements22.

District 4 issues location permits for non-public wells23.

  1. Confirm the parcel's zoning district with Hampton Community Development.
  2. Check lot size, setbacks and the 2,200 square foot minimum for that district5.
  3. Check the floodplain.
  4. Get a septic permit from District 4 if the lot is not on sewer9.
  5. Apply for the city's building permit and book inspections.

What stays with Henry County, and what should you check before you buy?

Septic and well permits sit with District 4 Public Health, not the city323. Henry County's own building and zoning rules apply to unincorporated land, not inside Hampton24. For land outside city limits, use the Henry County page.

Henry County's effective property tax rate is 0.9%25. The county's median property tax bill is $2,559 a year26.

Watch-outs

  • We could not confirm Hampton's general building permit rules, permit fees or adopted building code; ask the city's Community Development Department13.
  • Some city lot and house-size rules differ by district, so confirm the parcel's district before relying on any figure above1.
  • Tiny-home, well and short-term rental rules inside Hampton were not confirmed; ask the city before buying1.

Sources

  1. Hampton Zoning Sec. 5-2 R-1 Single-Family Residential District (Hampton), quoted and re-checked
  2. Hampton Code Sec. 18-113 Permitting, inspection, certificate of occupancy and fees (pre-owned manufactured homes) (Hampton), quoted and re-checked
  3. Wastewater Management, quoted and re-checked
  4. Hampton Zoning Sec. 3-24 Parking or Storage of Vehicles (Hampton), quoted and re-checked
  5. Hampton Zoning Sec. 5-2 R-1 Single-Family Residential District (Hampton), quoted and re-checked
  6. Hampton Zoning Sec. 5-1 RA Residential-Agricultural District (Hampton), quoted and re-checked
  7. Hampton Zoning Sec. 5-2 R-1 Single-Family Residential District (Hampton), quoted and re-checked
  8. Hampton Zoning Sec. 5-1 RA Residential-Agricultural District (Hampton), quoted and re-checked
  9. Wastewater Management, quoted and re-checked
  10. Hampton Zoning Sec. 5-2 R-1 Single-Family Residential District (Hampton), quoted and re-checked
  11. Hampton Zoning Sec. 5-2 R-1 Single-Family Residential District (Hampton), quoted and re-checked
  12. Hampton Zoning Sec. 5-1 RA Residential-Agricultural District (Hampton), quoted and re-checked
  13. Hampton Code Sec. 18-113 Permitting, inspection, certificate of occupancy and fees (pre-owned manufactured homes) (Hampton), quoted and re-checked
  14. Hampton Code Sec. 18-113 Permitting, inspection, certificate of occupancy and fees (pre-owned manufactured homes) (Hampton), quoted and re-checked
  15. Hampton Code Sec. 18-113 Permitting, inspection, certificate of occupancy and fees (pre-owned manufactured homes) (Hampton), quoted and re-checked
  16. Residential New Home Permit Checklist, quoted and re-checked
  17. Hampton Zoning Sec. 4-5 RV Parks (Hampton), quoted and re-checked
  18. Hampton Code Sec. 58-13 Camping (Hampton), quoted and re-checked
  19. Rules of the Department of Public Health, Chapter 511-3-1, On-Site Sewage Management Systems, quoted and re-checked
  20. On-Site Sewage Management Systems Manual, quoted and re-checked
  21. Share of soils USDA rates "not limited" for a conventional septic drain field (SSURGO). A strict rating: the median county is about 6% and a tenth of counties are 0%, so a low figure means most lots need a site evaluation or an engineered system, not that septic is impossible. Cite it only with that caveat: Bolthole Index county data
  22. Hampton Code Sec. 46-57 Building standards within the future-conditions floodplain (Hampton), quoted and re-checked
  23. Well Water, quoted and re-checked
  24. Planning & Zoning, quoted and re-checked
  25. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  26. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data

Written October 17, 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.

Answers from the rulebook for Hampton

Hampton’s own rules

  • Building permitLimited

    Locating a pre-owned manufactured home inside Hampton city; general building permit rules not located.

    • Applicant must provide an affidavit, photographs, a refundable guarantee-of-condition bond or cash deposit, and the permit and inspection fee.
    “a permit shall be required to locate a pre-owned manufactured home in the jurisdiction.”
  • InspectionsLimited

    Pre-owned manufactured home installations inside Hampton city.

    • Fee covers initial inspection and one follow-up; additional follow-ups are charged.
    • Building inspector may inspect before relocation if the home is elsewhere in the city.
    “applicant shall arrange for an inspection to be held once the installation of the manufactured home is complete.”
  • Certificate of occupancyLimited

    Pre-owned manufactured homes inside Hampton city.

    • Issued once the building inspector certifies the article's requirements are met.
    “a certificate of occupancy shall be issued to the applicant at such time that the building inspector certifies that the requirements of this article have been met.”
  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside Hampton city limits; the city adopts and administers its own zoning ordinance (Appendix A - Zoning).

    “it is the intent of this district to provide for single-family residential dwellings of a low density character on individual lots.”
  • Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

    R-1 Single-Family Residential District, Hampton city

    • Heated space.

    minimum floor area: >= 2200 sq ft

    “maximum height: 35 feet. 2. minimum floor area (heated space): 2,200 square feet.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    RA Residential-Agricultural District, Hampton city

    • 3 acres for agricultural uses; 1 acre for other uses.

    minimum lot area (agricultural): >= 3 acres · minimum lot area (other uses): >= 1 acre · minimum lot width: >= 200 feet

    “minimum lot area 3 acres (agricultural uses) 1 acre (other uses) b minimum lot width 200 feet”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • SetbacksSpecified

    R-1 Single-Family Residential District, Hampton city

    • Sec. 3-10 exceptions apply (e.g., accessory buildings may encroach into rear yard but not within 3 feet of rear line).

    front: >= 50 feet · side: >= 20 feet · side street: >= 37 feet · rear: >= 40 feet

    “minimum setbacks a front 50 feet b side 20 feet c side street 37 feet d rear 40 feet”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Building heightSpecified

    R-1 Single-Family Residential District, Hampton city

    maximum height: <= 35 feet

    “Maximum height: 35 feet. 2. Minimum floor area (heated space): 2,200 square feet.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Living in an RVLimited

    RVs used for living on a lot inside Hampton city (outside RV parks).

    • Temporary living quarters allowed only in RA and R-1 districts, for a catastrophic event or while a primary dwelling is built on a minimum 5-acre property with a valid residential permit.
    • Occupied only by owner/family; one RV at a time; no permanent utility hook-ups.
    • Emergency RV Permit valid up to 30 consecutive days, one extension of up to 30 days.

    permit duration: <= 30 days (one extension up to 30 additional days) · minimum acreage: >= 5 acres (applies to the new-construction scenario)

    “no such equipment shall be used for living, sleeping, or housekeeping purposes when parked or stored on a lot in any zoning district except in accordance with an approved emergency rv permit application issued by the city of hampton community development department.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Temporary only (with conditions) — RV parks inside Hampton city (RA district only).
      “recreational vehicle (rv) parks are allowed in ra zoning district only with an approved conditional use.”
  • Camping on your landProhibited

    Overnight camping in Hampton city parks only; camping on private land is governed by the RV rules (Sec. 3-24, 4-5).

    • Violation is a misdemeanor.
    “No permit shall be given for overnight camping in the park.”
  • Building in a floodplainLimited

    New residential construction in the future-conditions floodplain inside Hampton city.

    • Lowest floor at least three feet above base flood elevation or one foot above future-conditions flood elevation, whichever is higher.
    • RVs there must be on site fewer than 180 consecutive days and ready for highway use, or meet residential requirements.

    lowest floor elevation above BFE: >= 3 feet (or one foot above future-conditions flood elevation, whichever is higher)

    “new construction of principal buildings, including manufactured homes shall not be allowed within the limits of the future-conditions floodplain unless all requirements of sections 46-52, 46-53 and 46-54 have been met.”
  • Permit processPartial

    Permit process for pre-owned manufactured homes inside Hampton city; general process not located.

    • Items: affidavit, photographs, bond or cash deposit, permit and inspection fee.
    “to obtain a permit, applicants shall provide to the building inspector: a. an affidavit signed by the applicant that the pre-owned manufactured home meets health and safety standards required by this article;”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Hampton or Henry County directly.

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption inside Hampton city
  • Building code adopted — Building code inside Hampton city
  • Lot coverage — Lot coverage inside Hampton city
  • Tiny homes — Tiny homes inside Hampton city
  • Who permits septic — Septic regulation inside Hampton city
10 more unanswered
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Subdividing land
  • Driveway access
  • Short-term rentals
  • Permit fees

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.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Hampton publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Henry County’s page lists the county offices to call.

← All of Henry County: county rules, score and offices