Bolthole Index

Blount County, Tennessee

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

69Index Score / 100
#56 of 95 in Tennessee

Unincorporated Blount County, Tennessee requires a written building permit before most construction, structural alterations, building moves or changes in use; listed exceptions include interior finishes in certain homes, agricultural uses and accessory farm buildings1. Blount County Development Services enforces the 2018 ICC commercial and residential regulations through plan review and inspections2. Septic permit and completion packages go directly to Blount County Environmental Health34.

At a glance

Building permit
Required for most construction; listed agricultural and interior-finish exceptions apply1
Building code
Development Services enforces the 2018 ICC edition2
Zoning
County zoning applies outside municipal limits56
Septic permits
Apply directly to Blount County Environmental Health34
Owner-builder
One permit every two years for an owner-used home not for sale, lease or rent7
Rural District 2 lot size
Five acres per unit unless another provision expressly requires otherwise8
Manufactured homes
One or two dwellings are permitted on one Rural District 2 lot9
RV or tiny-home living
Not confirmed countywide; ask the Building Commissioner for the parcel's district rule10

Who to call

Building permits

Blount County Development Services (Office of the Building Commissioner)

Building permits, plan review, inspections, occupancy certificates and zoning enforcement for unincorporated Blount County

865-681-9301

[email protected]

303 McGhee Street, Maryville, TN 37801

Planning & zoning

Blount County Planning Department

Staff support to the Planning Commission and general land-use planning for the county

865-681-9301

1221 McArthur Road, Maryville, TN 37804

Septic permits

Blount County Department of Environmental Health

Subsurface sewage disposal (septic) permits and private water supply bacteriological testing

865-681-9301

1221 McArthur Road, Maryville, TN 37804

Zoning

Zoning Regulations of Blount County, Tennessee

The county's adopted zoning ordinance text, administered by the Building Commissioner

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on September 29, 2026.

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

Blount County requires a written permit before most building erection, structural alteration, building moves or changes in the use of a building or land1. Maintenance and interior finishes in one- or two-family homes, agricultural uses, accessory farm buildings and home gardening are listed exceptions1. Development Services applies the 2018 ICC commercial and residential regulations through plan review and inspections2. After all required inspections are complete and fees are paid, the contractor named on the permit receives a Certificate of Occupancy or Certificate of Completion11. A Tennessee owner may obtain one permit every two years to build a residence for personal use, provided the home is not for sale, lease or rent; hiring a contractor changes the licensing obligations7.

Who is the Blount County building department, and how do you reach it?

Blount County Development Services, through the Office of the Building Commissioner, issues building permits and enforces zoning10. The office is at 303 McGhee Street, Maryville, TN 37801; call 865-681-9301 or email [email protected]10. For zoning administration and building inspections, start there. The Blount County Planning Department supports the Planning Commission and provides general planning services12. Planning is at 1221 McArthur Road, Maryville, TN 37804 and uses 865-681-930112. Properties inside a municipality need a separate check with that city because the county zoning resolution applies outside municipal limits6.

Does Blount County have zoning?

Blount County zoning applies throughout the county outside municipal limits6. The exact district matters. In R-2 Rural District 2, one or two single-family or manufactured-home dwellings may occupy one lot9. R-2 development generally requires five acres per unit unless another provision expressly requires otherwise, and structures generally may not rise more than 35 feet above the highest adjacent natural grade unless another article allows it813. Vacation cabin rentals and tourist accommodations are special exceptions in R-2 rather than automatically permitted uses14. Tennessee's agricultural zoning protection is conditional: the structure must be on land devoted to agriculture and incidental to that enterprise, with exclusions for certain locations including the one-hundred-year floodplain15. Ask the Building Commissioner to identify the parcel's district before treating any R-2 standard as applicable108.

How do septic permits work in Blount County?

Blount County Environmental Health operates under Tennessee groundwater-protection rules and receives septic permit and Certificate of Completion packages directly because Blount is a contract county163. A septic construction permit is required for a new system or repair, and the county provides the local application417. Final inspection is required; when statutory conditions are met, a third-party water-resources engineer may perform it instead of the department or county and must submit the report within five business days18. Only about 20% of county soils are rated without severe limitations for a conventional drain field, so establish system feasibility before relying on a homesite19. If a qualifying bonded utility has sewer along the abutting public way, Tennessee law may allow that utility to require the building to connect20.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home on land in Blount County?

We could not confirm a countywide rule allowing or prohibiting full-time occupancy of an RV or tiny home on an individual Blount County parcel. The ordinance language held by the county addresses commercial RV parks, where mobile homes and permanent residences are prohibited except for a resident manager's structure, but that does not answer occupancy on a private residential or agricultural lot6. Manufactured homes have a clearer answer in one district: R-2 allows one or two single-family or manufactured-home dwellings on one lot9. That district-specific permission should not be read as countywide approval. Before placing any RV, tiny home or manufactured home, ask the Building Commissioner to confirm the parcel's zoning district, allowed occupancy and permit path10.

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

  1. Ask the Building Commissioner to identify the parcel's zoning district and applicable dimensional standards10.
  2. Confirm septic feasibility and submit the construction-permit package directly to Blount County Environmental Health34.
  3. Decide whether a licensed contractor or Tennessee's owner-builder path applies; the owner-builder allowance is limited to one permit every two years for a personal residence not intended for sale, lease or rent7.
  4. Submit plans and obtain the written county building permit before starting covered work1.
  5. If access connects to a state-highway right-of-way, obtain the required TDOT entrance permit21.
  6. Complete building and septic inspections, pay outstanding fees and obtain the applicable occupancy or completion certificate before occupancy1118.

What should you check before buying land in Blount County?

Start with zoning: confirm whether the tract is outside municipal limits, then get its district from the Building Commissioner610. Do not apply R-2's five-acre-per-unit or 35-foot standards to a parcel until its district is verified813. Establish septic feasibility early because only about 20% of county soils are rated without severe limitations for a conventional drain field19. Confirm whether sewer connection is available or may be required, since the statewide authority applies only under specific utility and frontage conditions20. For road access, a state-highway driveway requires a TDOT entrance permit, while we could not confirm a countywide driveway-approval rule for other roads21. Also ask Environmental Health about private-well requirements because we could not confirm a county well-permit rule16.

Watch-outs

  • R-2 Rural District 2 standards are not countywide defaults; verify the parcel's zoning district before relying on its five-acre lot rule, manufactured-home permission, height limit or vacation-rental process891314.
  • A building permit does not finish the process: covered work must pass required inspections, all fees must be paid and the applicable occupancy or completion certificate must be issued11.
  • Blount County receives septic permit and completion packages directly, and a final septic inspection is part of the process318.

Sources

  1. Development Services, quoted and re-checked
  2. Development Services, quoted and re-checked
  3. Environmental Health, quoted and re-checked
  4. Forms & Applications, quoted and re-checked
  5. Zoning Regulations of Blount County, Tennessee (2026 county census)
  6. Zoning Regulations of Blount County, Tennessee (blounttn.gov)
  7. Can I build my own home without a license? (Tennessee statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  8. Blount County Zoning Regulations, quoted and re-checked
  9. Blount County Zoning Regulations, quoted and re-checked
  10. Blount County Development Services (Office of the Building Commissioner) (blounttn.gov)
  11. Permitting Process Reference Manual, quoted and re-checked
  12. Blount County Planning Department (blounttn.gov)
  13. Blount County Zoning Regulations, quoted and re-checked
  14. Blount County Zoning Regulations, quoted and re-checked
  15. Exemption from County Zoning Regulation for Buildings on Land Used for Agriculture, Opinion No. 22-07 (Tennessee statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  16. Blount County Department of Environmental Health (blounttn.gov)
  17. Septic System Construction Permit (Tennessee statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  18. Third-Party Permits & Final Inspections for Subsurface Sewage Disposal Systems, quoted and re-checked
  19. Share of soils without severe limits for a conventional septic drain field (USDA SSURGO): Bolthole Index county data
  20. Utility Customers Frequently Asked Questions (Tennessee statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  21. Highway Entrance Permits (Tennessee statewide rule), quoted and re-checked

Written September 29, 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.

Found land here? Start a Property Hunt →

County locator

Blount County in Tennessee

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

How Blount County scores

Seclusion40100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency69100% ev.
Admin Boringness46100% ev.
Durability74100% ev.
Property Autonomy71100% ev.
Carry Cost71100% 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 →

$399kTypical home
0.5%Property tax
$8,030Land / acre
56.5"Annual rain
3.7% of yrsSevere drought
3.5 / yr (+3.4)Mid-century 100°F days
12.8 daysMid-century dry spell
2.29" (+9.8%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.63×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
$1,546Home insurance / yr
-0.1% / yrInsurance growth
0.64%Nonrenewal rate
county median (2+ published ZIPs)Insurance basis
51,078People within 30 min
1,926,338People within 2 hr
208,833Radius comparison (15 mi)
253.1People / sq mi
28.9%Federal land
42.5%Land at 15% slope or less
20.1%Septic soil without severe limits
68,424 acWorkable land screen
70.2%Wooded land
74.6 tonsBiomass / forest ac
58.2°FAvg temp

Scout Blount County

Camp here before you commitBook a few nights nearby on Hipcamp →Already own land here?Earn money hosting campers — get $100 when you become a Hipcamp host →

Some links are affiliate or referral links — we may earn a commission, at no cost to you.

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.

View your full hunt →
ZillowLand & lotsRealtor.comLand listingsLandSearchRural & vacant land

Each button opens a current land search for Blount County. Listing sites control their own results and filters.

Analyze a property
Add setup-cost allowances

Use rough quotes or placeholders. Blank fields count as $0.

Working estimate

—land + entered setup costs
Asking $ / acre
—
Setup allowance
—
All-in $ / acre
—

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

Before an offer

Parcel due diligence

0/8 checked

Saved properties and checklist progress stay on this device. Bolthole Index does not receive them.

Answers from the rulebook for Blount County

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

Blount County rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Construction subject to Blount County Development Services permitting.

    • The county accepts applications for all construction permits and issues permits; inspection cannot occur before permit issuance without an approved site plan.
    “Except as herein before provided, a written building permit shall be obtained from the Department of Development Services before starting or proceeding with the erection, structural alteration, or moving of any building or structure, or changing the use of any building or land, except that no permit shall be required for maintenance or installation of interior finishes in one or two family residences, agricultural uses and accessory farm buildings, or for home gardening or similar uses in any zone.”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    Commercial and residential construction regulated by Blount County Development Services.

    • The county page identifies the enforced edition as the 2018 edition of the International Code Council.

    building code edition: 2018 International Code Council

    “The Department of Development Services enforces the commercial and residential regulations of the 2018 edition of the International Code Council through the plan review and inspection processes.”
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    New buildings and occupancy changes covered by the county permitting process.

    • Occupying before issuance is identified as a Class C misdemeanor.
    “A Certificate of Occupancy or a Certificate of Completion will be issued to the contractor listed on the permit after all inspections are complete and all fees are paid.”
  • Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Development in the R-2 Rural District 2.

    • The cited five-acre standard is district-specific and applies unless otherwise explicitly required by the regulation.

    minimum lot size per unit: 5 acres (unless otherwise explicitly required in subsections above)

    “unless otherwise explicitly required in subsections above, the minimum lot size per unit for development shall be five acres.”
  • Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Structures in the R-2 Rural District 2 unless another zoning article expressly allows otherwise.

    • The regulation expressly allows other articles of the resolution to provide different rules.

    maximum height above highest natural grade: <= 35 feet (unless otherwise explicitly allowed in other articles of the Resolution)

    “Unless otherwise explicitly allowed in other articles of this Resolution, all structures shall be no greater than 35 feet higher than the highest natural grade immediately adjacent to the structure.”
  • Manufactured homesAllowed

    One or two manufactured-home dwellings on a single lot in the R-2 Rural District 2.

    • The cited permission is district-specific and does not establish countywide permission in every zoning district.
    “A. Permitted Uses: one or two single family dwellings or manufactured home dwellings on a single lot, duplex dwellings, customary home occupations, group homes as provided in Tennessee Code Annotated Section 13-24-101, et seq;”
  • Who permits septicMixed (with conditions)

    Subsurface sewage disposal systems in Blount County.

    • Blount County Environmental Health operates under TDEC Division of Groundwater Protection rules; Blount is a TDEC contract county and permit/completion packages are submitted directly to the county.
    “Permit packages and Certificate of Completion Packages for sites located in the contract counties listed below should be submitted directly to the contract county. Contract Counties: Blount, Davidson, Hamilton, Jefferson, Knox, Madison, Sevier, Shelby & Williamson”
  • Septic permitRequired

    Subsurface sewage disposal system construction in Blount County.

    • Blount County is a contract county; permit packages are submitted directly to the county.
    “Application for Subsurface Sewage System Permit”
  • Septic inspectionRequired

    Final inspection and Certificate of Completion for subsurface sewage disposal systems.

    • A third-party engineer may conduct the final inspection in lieu of the department or contract county if statutory conditions are met; the report must be submitted within five business days.

    inspection report submission deadline: <= 5 business days

    “A person may engage a third-party water resources engineer to conduct the final inspection of a subsurface sewage disposal system pursuant to subdivision (a)(4) in lieu of the department or the contract county.”
  • Short-term rentalsLimited

    Vacation cabin rental and tourist accommodations in the R-2 Rural District 2.

    • Vacation cabin rental and tourist accommodations are listed as special exceptions in the R-2 district; the source does not establish a countywide short-term-rental rule.
    “vacation cabin rental (see also section 7.11), tourist accommodations, bed and breakfast accommodations, tourist oriented recreation facilities;”
  • County-wide zoningPresent

    Blount County has adopted county-wide Zoning Regulations (adopted June 15, 2000) administered by the Building Commissioner, Planning Commission, and Board of Zoning Appeals.

    Zoning Regulations of Blount County, Tennessee ↗Scouted from the county site, not yet independently re-checked

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).”
  • 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."”
  • Agricultural exemptionConditional

    Buildings or structures on land used for agricultural purposes and subject to county zoning regulation in Tennessee.

    • The building or structure must be located on lands devoted to agricultural uses.
    • The building or structure must be incidental to the agricultural enterprise.
    • The exemption does not apply to agricultural lands adjacent or in proximity to state or federal-aid highways, public airports, or public parks.
    • The exemption does not apply to land located within the one-hundred-year flood plain.
    • The Attorney General opinion states that the provision applies to counties only and has no application to municipalities.
    • There is no blanket exemption for cotton gins, grain elevators, slaughterhouses, processing plants, or milk bottling plants; those structures qualify only when the statutory conditions are met.
    “it must be located on lands “devoted to agricultural uses;” and (2) it must be “incidental to the agricultural enterprise.””
  • 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”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Residential permit purchase and inspection process under Tennessee's State Residential Building Code Enforcement Program.

    • The state program applies to one- and two-family dwellings and townhouses only in areas without the stated local-code exemption or opt-out.
    • A first-time CORE user must register for an account.
    • A building permit must be purchased online or at a local Issue Agent.
    • Inspections cover the foundation before pouring, framing/rough-in construction, and final construction.
    • One free re-inspection is available; each additional re-inspection requires an additional fee.
    • A homeowner may build a home only if it will be the homeowner's residence, not sold or leased, and the homeowner has not received a homeowner building permit during the preceding 24 months.
    • Detached garages, sheds, barns, and other detached structures not used for living purposes do not require a state residential building permit.
    • A permit is not required for installation of a manufactured or modular home, but custom site work such as a deck, patio, or stoop requires a permit.

    effective date for permit requirement for additions over 30 square feet: 2011-10-01 (Applies to additions to existing homes.) · free re-inspections per project: 1 inspection (Available if a required inspection is not passed the first time.)

    “A building permit must be purchased online or at a local Issue Agent. The cost of the building permit is based on the estimated cost”
  • 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.

  • Local zoning — Local zoning across Blount County, including incorporated municipalities and other local jurisdictions.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size in Blount County zoning districts.
  • Lot coverage — Lot coverage limits in Blount County zoning districts.
  • Camping on your land — Temporary camping outside an approved campground in Blount County.
  • Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy in Blount County.
3 more unanswered
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit

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 Blount County, Tennessee

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

Blount County scores 69/100 on the Bolthole Index, a strong county profile. Its strengths: mixed durability signals and manageable long-term carry cost. Watch-outs: about 51,078 people within a 30-minute drive.

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

Blount County generally requires a residential building permit, and it enforces county zoning. Onsite septic is permitted by Blount County Department of Environmental Health. 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 Blount County, Tennessee?

Land in Blount County runs about $8,030 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in Blount County?

Blount County gets about 56.5" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 3.7% of years.

How remote is Blount County?

A representative private-land location has about 51,078 people within a 30-minute drive and 1,926,338 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 Blount County means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

These are affiliate links — we may earn a commission, at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, Bolthole Index earns from qualifying purchases.

How Blount compares in Tennessee

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