Cannon County, Tennessee requires a building permit for covered residential construction before soil is disturbed at the site; the county rules cover new homes and additions over 30 square feet.1 The county also zones its unincorporated territory, while TDEC handles septic-system permits.23 Auburntown is excluded from the county Planning Department's stated building-code administration, so projects there should start with the town.4
At a glance
- Building permit
- Required for covered new residential construction and additions over 30 square feet1
- Zoning
- County zoning applies in unincorporated Cannon County2
- Septic
- TDEC's water-resources division issues the construction permit35
- Owner-builder
- Allowed for an owner's own single residence, subject to licensing limits6
- RV living
- Long-term occupancy on an individual parcel is not confirmed; ask Planning2
- Tiny home
- Placement and occupancy are not confirmed; ask Planning before purchase2
- Floodplain
- A development permit is required in regulated flood-hazard areas7
Who to call
Planning & zoning
Cannon County Planning Department
Building permits, zoning administration, planning and floodplain questions
200 West Main St. Woodbury, TN 37190
Septic permits
Septic-system permitting assistance for Cannon County
1221 South Willow Avenue Cookeville, TN 38506
Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on September 27, 2026.
Do you need a building permit in Cannon County, Tennessee?
Yes. Cannon County requires its residential building permit before soil is disturbed for covered work, and the county FAQ says the rules apply to new construction and additions over 30 square feet.1 The county has adopted building codes for residential construction, and its current administration covers Cannon County, including Woodbury, but excludes Auburntown.4
A manufactured or modular home is treated differently: the county material says no residential building permit is required merely to place one, but factory inspection, licensed installation and an installation decal still apply.8 Do not treat the county building permit as an all-in-one approval; zoning, septic, floodplain and electrical requirements remain separate.9
Who issues Cannon County building permits, and how do you reach them?
The Cannon County Planning Department is the practical starting point for building and zoning questions. Its official page says the department administers and enforces the county zoning resolution and supports the Planning Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals.10 The office is at the Cannon County Courthouse, 200 West Main St. in Woodbury, and the published phone number is (615) 563-5263.10
Residential permit applications are available through the county's iWorQ portal.10 Because Auburntown is excluded from the county Planning Department's stated building-code administration, an Auburntown project should be cleared with the town before relying on the county process.4 For unincorporated parcels, ask Planning to confirm the zoning district, zoning compliance, floodplain status and which supporting approvals must accompany the building application.117
Does Cannon County have zoning?
Yes. Cannon County's zoning resolution applies to the unincorporated territory, while municipal rules may apply inside incorporated places.2 The unincorporated zoning map uses R-1 residential, C-1 commercial, A-1 agricultural and I-1 industrial districts.11
Lot size depends on district and utility availability. In R-1, the reviewed rules set 15,000 square feet with public water and sewer, 30,000 square feet with public water, and 2 acres without public water, or more if TDEC requires it.12 Building height and yard dimensions also depend on the parcel's district rather than one countywide figure.13 Tennessee's agricultural zoning exemption is conditional: the structure must be on land devoted to agricultural use and incidental to that enterprise, with stated exclusions including floodplain and certain nearby public facilities.14
How do septic permits work in Cannon County?
Tennessee's Division of Water Resources is the septic authority identified for Cannon County, and a septic-system construction permit is required before installing a new subsurface system or repairing a faulty one.35 The TDEC septic-assistance contact listed in the county subdivision regulations is at 1221 South Willow Avenue in Cookeville and can be reached at 931-206-6329.15
Treat soil suitability as an early purchase question: only 0.8% of mapped county soils avoid a “very limited” rating for a conventional septic drain field.16 TDEC may require soils information, and large conventional or alternative systems may require a licensed engineer's design.5 In unsewered R-1 areas, the zoning minimum is 2 acres or more if TDEC requires it, so a parcel meeting the acreage minimum still needs a workable septic location.17
Can you live in an RV or tiny home on land in Cannon County?
We could not confirm a complete rule allowing or prohibiting long-term residence in an individual RV in unincorporated Cannon County. The zoning material regulates travel-trailer parks and says travel trailers and travel-trailer parks in the I-1 district are permitted only upon appeal, but that does not answer occupancy on a single private parcel.8 Ask the Cannon County Planning Department about the parcel's district, temporary occupancy and required utilities before buying or moving an RV onsite.10
We also could not confirm the placement and occupancy conditions for a tiny home or a countywide minimum dwelling floor area. County zoning still applies in unincorporated areas, and lot area, yards and height depend on district and utility service.212 A portable dwelling should not be assumed exempt from zoning, septic or floodplain approval.75
Building a home in Cannon County: what are the steps?
- Confirm whether the parcel is in unincorporated Cannon County, Woodbury or Auburntown; the county administers building codes in Cannon County and Woodbury but excludes Auburntown.4
- Ask the Cannon County Planning Department to identify the zoning district, applicable lot and yard rules, and floodplain status.1011
- Secure TDEC approval for the septic location and construction permit before installing or repairing a subsurface system.5
- Resolve driveway access; a driveway built or changed on state highway right-of-way requires a TDOT permit.18
- Apply for the county building permit before disturbing soil at the construction site.1
- If building as the owner, keep within the owner-builder conditions: one residence every two years for personal use, not resale, lease or rent, and contractor-licensing rules apply to hired work of $25,000 or more.6
What should you check before buying land in Cannon County?
Start with buildability, not just acreage. Nearly all mapped soils carry severe limitations for a conventional septic drain field, while only 48.9% of county land is at a 15% slope or less.1619 A soil evaluation, a feasible reserve area and a buildable route for access can matter more than the parcel's gross size.
Check the zoning map and utility situation because unincorporated district rules vary with public water and sewer availability.17 Check FEMA mapping before grading because regulated flood-hazard development needs a permit before work begins.7 If access meets a state highway, obtain the required TDOT entrance permit before constructing or changing the driveway.18 For carrying cost, the county's effective property-tax rate is about 0.5%, with a median annual property-tax bill of $1,091.2021
Watch-outs
- Auburntown is excluded from the county Planning Department's stated building-code administration; ask the town which permits and codes apply there.4
- A building permit does not replace separate zoning, septic, electrical or floodplain approvals.9
- Long-term RV occupancy and tiny-home placement remain unconfirmed; ask Cannon County Planning about the specific parcel before committing.10
Sources
- Cannon County Building Permit FAQs, quoted and re-checked
- Official Zoning Resolution, quoted and re-checked
- Subdivision Regulations, quoted and re-checked
- Amended Zoning Resolution and Building Codes, quoted and re-checked
- Septic System Construction Permit (Tennessee statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
- Cannon County Building Permit FAQs, quoted and re-checked
- Official Zoning Resolution, quoted and re-checked
- Amended Zoning Resolution and Building Codes, quoted and re-checked
- Residential Permit FAQs (Tennessee statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
- Cannon County Planning Department (cannoncountytn.gov)
- Amended Zoning Resolution and Building Codes, quoted and re-checked
- Amended Zoning Resolution and Building Codes, quoted and re-checked
- Amended Zoning Resolution and Building Codes, quoted and re-checked
- Exemption from County Zoning Regulation for Buildings on Land Used for Agriculture, Opinion No. 22-07 (Tennessee statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
- TN Department of Environment & Conservation (TDEC) Division of Water Resources Septic System Assistance (cannoncountytn.gov)
- Share of soils without severe limits for a conventional septic drain field (USDA SSURGO): Bolthole Index county data
- Amended Zoning Resolution and Building Codes, quoted and re-checked
- Highway Entrance Permits (Tennessee statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
- Share of land at 15% slope or less: Bolthole Index county data
- Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
- Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data
Written September 27, 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.