Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Friendsville, Tennessee

Friendsville’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Construction inside Friendsville city

  • Two full sets of plans required for review
  • Residential permit requires a septic permit from Blount County Environmental Health

  “a permit must be issued prior to commencement of construction activity of any kind, site grading and driveways included.”

• InspectionsRequired

  Construction inside Friendsville city

  • Footing, plumbing, rough-in, framing, final inspections listed on the checklist; additional items may be required

  “schedule final building, fire, electric, and site inspections.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Buildings inside Friendsville city

  • CO issued after all trade and departmental inspections and verification of setbacks

  “no building or structure shall be used or occupied, and no change in the existing occupancy classification shall be made without first obtaining a certificate of occupancy (co).”

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Friendsville city limits

  • The city's building checklist refers to Ordinance 2017-01 for setbacks; the ordinance text itself was not available on an official city page during this research.

  “zoning classifications listed below are the current zoning codes used by the city along with a brief description.”

• Zoning districtsPartial

  Zoning districts inside Friendsville city

  • District names and purposes are published: R-1, R-2, C-1, C-2, M-1, AG and FP flood overlay. Dimensional standards and the map were not found on an official page.

  districts: R-1, R-2, C-1, C-2, M-1, AG, FP

  “r-1 (low density residential)- it is the purpose and intent of this district to protect areas that have been previously developed for residential use and to provide areas that are suitable for low density housing.”

• Living in an RVLimited

  RV placed as a temporary dwelling inside Friendsville city

  • Only for agricultural employee housing, owner building a permanent home, or a caretaker
  • Board of Commissioners approval at monthly meeting
  • One per parcel; may not be rented; must be behind the front line of the primary dwelling; meet zoning setbacks
  • Permit valid one year (six months for caretakers); fee $100

  temp dwelling permit fee: 100 USD · permit duration: <= 1 year (caretaker permits six months)

  “only one temporary dwelling per parcel is allowed.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Plats and subdivisions inside Friendsville city

  • Planning commission reviews plat applications; detailed standards not located

  “the planning commission meets monthly to review proposed amendments to zoning ordinances, site plans, and plat applications.”

• Driveway accessRequired

  Driveways inside Friendsville city

  • Permit needed for driveways; paving requirement applies on permit
  • TDOT driveway permit may apply on state routes

  paved length from roadway edge: >= 15 feet (or to right-of-way limit, whichever is greater)

  “driveway paving requirement: driveways must be paved a minimum of 15 feet from the edge of the roadway or to the right-of-way (row) limit, whichever is greater.”

• Permit feesPublished

  Residential building permits inside Friendsville city

  • Fee table is on the city residential permit form; undated

  new home flat fee: 275 USD (plus $0.75 per sq. ft. of total area) · remodel flat fee: 200 USD (plus $0.50 per sq. ft. room area)

  “new home $275 $0.75 based on total sq. ft.”

• Permit processPublished

  Building permits inside Friendsville city

  • Checklist and application forms published on city site

  “two (2) full sets of plans must be submitted to codes staff for building plans review.”

Rules another office applies inside Friendsville

Friendsville does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

• Who permits septicCounty

  Sewage disposal systems inside Friendsville city; handled by Blount County Department of Environmental Health (county:47009)

  • Friendsville's own checklist directs applicants to the county

  “contact the blount county department of environmental health regarding sewage disposal system;”

• Septic permitRequired

  New construction using a sewage disposal system inside Friendsville city (Blount County Environmental Health)

  • Issued by Blount County Department of Environmental Health; required by the city before a building permit issues

  “approval for a sewage disposal system must be obtained before a building permit can be issued.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builders inside Friendsville city
• Building code adopted — Building codes inside Friendsville city
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Friendsville city
• Minimum lot size — R-1 and AG districts inside Friendsville city
• Setbacks — R-1 and AG districts inside Friendsville city

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.