Bolthole Index

Carroll County, Tennessee

Building permits, zoning and septic rules in Carroll County, Tennessee

79Index Score / 100
#22 of 95 in Tennessee

Unincorporated Carroll County, Tennessee does not require a residential building permit because the county opted out of the state residential code program1. Countywide zoning is unconfirmed, so ask the Carroll County Mayor's Office about the parcel and intended use before buying23. TDEC handles septic permits through its Jackson Environmental Field Office45.

At a glance

Building permit
Not required for a residence in unincorporated Carroll County; the county opted out of the state program1
Zoning
Countywide status unconfirmed; ask the County Mayor's Office about the parcel and proposed use23
Septic permit
Required for a new system or repair; apply through TDEC's Jackson Environmental Field Office65
RV living
Not confirmed; ask the County Mayor's Office before relying on RV occupancy23
Tiny home
Occupancy and dimensional rules are not confirmed; ask the County Mayor's Office and TDEC235
Owner-builder
A Tennessee owner may build one personal residence every two years if it is not for sale, lease or rent7
Voluntary inspection
An owner or contractor may request a state inspection and Certificate of Occupancy in an opt-out jurisdiction8
Septic soils
0% of mapped soils lack severe limits for a conventional drain field9

Who to call

Building permits

Tennessee State Fire Marshal's Office residential program

State residential program status and voluntary inspection questions for Carroll County

731-609-5063

[email protected]

Planning & zoning

Carroll County Mayor's Office

County contact for parcel-specific zoning, land-use, floodplain and local permit questions

(731) 986-1936

[email protected]

625 High Street, Suite 101, Huntingdon, TN 38344

Septic permits

TDEC Jackson Environmental Field Office, Division of Water Resources

Septic-related inquiries for Carroll County

731-441-5593

1625 Hollywood Drive, Jackson, TN 38305

Roads & driveways

Carroll County Road Commissioners

County-road access questions

(731) 986-1998

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on September 28, 2026.

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

No residential building permit is required in unincorporated Carroll County, Tennessee because the county opted out of the State Residential Building Code Program1. The state program is limited to places that have neither adopted qualifying local enforcement nor opted out, and a state residential permit never replaces separate septic, floodplain, grading, electrical or zoning approvals10. Carroll County owners and contractors may still obtain a state permit to request construction inspections; the State Fire Marshal releases a Certificate of Occupancy when an inspected dwelling meets statewide building construction safety standards8. Tennessee's owner-builder rule allows a property owner to build one residence for personal use every two years, provided the home is not for sale, lease or rent7.

Who handles Carroll County building and permit questions?

The State Fire Marshal's residential jurisdiction roster lists Carroll County as opted out and provides a program contact at 731-609-5063 and [email protected]11. Incorporated places have separate statuses: Clarksburg, Hollow Rock, McKenzie, McLemoresville and Trezevant participate in the state residential program, while Huntingdon and Bruceton are listed as exempt and Atwood is opted out11. Those municipal entries matter because the county answer does not control a parcel inside city limits11. For an unincorporated parcel, direct questions about local zoning, land use or an unconfirmed county approval to the Carroll County Mayor's Office at (731) 986-19363. Septic questions belong with TDEC's Jackson Environmental Field Office, and county-road access questions belong with the Carroll County Road Commissioners512.

Does Carroll County, Tennessee have zoning?

We could not confirm countywide zoning in Carroll County; the available information identifies a limited Carroll County Lake Planning Region zoning resolution and a separate flood-hazard resolution but does not establish a broader countywide ordinance2. Do not treat that uncertainty as permission for a particular use, setback, lot size, building height, RV or tiny home2. Ask the Carroll County Mayor's Office to identify any rule that applies to the parcel and intended use before closing3. Tennessee law allows counties to zone territory outside municipalities, subject to the procedures in state law13. Where county zoning applies, a structure on agricultural land must be incidental to the agricultural enterprise to qualify for the state agricultural zoning exemption, and the exemption has exceptions near specified public facilities and in the one-hundred-year floodplain14. Municipal rules can differ, so contact the relevant town when a parcel lies inside incorporated limits11.

How do septic permits work in Carroll County?

TDEC's Division of Water Resources, rather than a Carroll County department, administers septic permits for Carroll County through the Jackson Environmental Field Office45. A Septic System Construction Permit is required to install a system or repair an existing faulty system, and the completed application and fee go to the appropriate Environmental Field Office6. Review generally takes 10 days and must be completed within 45 days6. A conventional-system permit costs $400 for design flow up to 1,000 gallons per day, while an alternative-system permit costs $500 at that capacity; added capacity carries additional fees6. Carroll County's soil data show 0% of mapped soils without severe limitations for a conventional drain field, so make septic feasibility an early contingency rather than assuming a standard field will work9. Call the septic line at 731-441-5593 before choosing a house site5.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Carroll County?

Carroll County's rules for living in an RV, camping on private land, tiny-home occupancy, minimum dwelling size and setbacks could not be confirmed2. The absence of a confirmed countywide zoning ordinance does not establish that those uses are allowed2. Before buying, give the Carroll County Mayor's Office the parcel location and describe whether the unit will be temporary, permanent, on wheels or on a foundation3. A site-built residence in unincorporated Carroll County does not require the state residential building permit because the county opted out, but that answer does not waive septic or other applicable approvals110. Any new septic installation or repair requires a Septic System Construction Permit through TDEC6. If the parcel is inside a city or town, contact that municipality because incorporated jurisdictions in Carroll County have different building-program statuses11.

Building a home in Carroll County: the steps in order

  1. Confirm that the parcel is in unincorporated Carroll County; incorporated communities have separate state-program statuses11.
  1. Ask the Carroll County Mayor's Office whether zoning, the Lake planning-area resolution, floodplain rules, subdivision standards or other local approvals apply to the parcel23.
  1. Contact TDEC's Jackson Environmental Field Office for the septic application and complete the site evaluation before fixing the house location65.
  1. Plan the driveway: call the Road Commissioners for a county road, while a connection to a state highway requires a TDOT permit before construction, modification or a change in use1215.
  1. Build without a required residential permit in unincorporated Carroll County, or request the voluntary state inspection path if a Certificate of Occupancy would help with financing or insurance18.

What should you check before buying land in Carroll County?

Start with septic feasibility: 0% of Carroll County's mapped soils are rated without severe limitations for a conventional drain field, making the site evaluation central to both cost and buildable-area planning9. Confirm zoning, floodplain administration, subdivision status, setbacks and the intended use with the Carroll County Mayor's Office because the countywide zoning answer remains unresolved23. Verify legal access with the Road Commissioners for a county road, and obtain a TDOT permit if the entrance connects to a state highway1215. Carroll County is rural at about 48.3 people per square mile, and 60.3% of its land is wooded1617. Farmland averages about $3,459 per acre, while the effective property-tax rate is about 0.7% and the median annual property-tax bill is about $809181920.

Watch-outs

  • Carroll County's opt-out status applies to the unincorporated county; incorporated communities have separate state residential-program statuses11.
  • Countywide zoning, RV occupancy, tiny-home occupancy, setbacks, minimum lot size and floodplain administration remain unconfirmed, so ask the Carroll County Mayor's Office about the specific parcel and use23.
  • Conventional septic conditions are difficult across the mapped county: 0% of soils are rated without severe drain-field limitations9.

Sources

  1. TN State Fire Marshal - Residential Jurisdictions & Inspectors (2026 county census)
  2. (2026 county census)
  3. Carroll County Mayor's Office (carrollcountytn.gov)
  4. Septic System Construction Permit, quoted and re-checked
  5. TDEC Jackson Environmental Field Office, Division of Water Resources (tn.gov)
  6. Septic System Construction Permit, quoted and re-checked
  7. Can I build my own home without a license? (2026 county census)
  8. Statewide Building Construction Code Inspections in “Opt-Out” or “Non-Code” Jurisdictions (Tennessee statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  9. Share of soils without severe limits for a conventional septic drain field (USDA SSURGO): Bolthole Index county data
  10. Residential Permit FAQs (Tennessee statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  11. Tennessee State Fire Marshal's Office residential program (tn.gov)
  12. Carroll County Road Commissioners (carrollcountytn.gov)
  13. Tennessee Attorney General Opinion No. 10-108 (Tennessee statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  14. Exemption from County Zoning Regulation for Buildings on Land Used for Agriculture, Opinion No. 22-07 (Tennessee statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  15. Highway Entrance Permits (Tennessee statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  16. Population density: Bolthole Index county data
  17. Wooded share of land: Bolthole Index county data
  18. Farmland value per acre (USDA census): Bolthole Index county data
  19. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  20. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data

Written September 28, 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.

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County locator

Carroll County in Tennessee

79
County map
Carroll County highlighted among the Tennessee counties · colored by Index score

How Carroll County scores

Seclusion51100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency74100% ev.
Admin Boringness7877% ev.
Durability55100% ev.
Property Autonomy71100% ev.
Carry Cost89100% ev.

Evidence strength: 96%. This reports direct-source completeness and fallback use; it is separate from the score and is not a confidence interval. How it works →

$185kTypical home
0.7%Property tax
$3,459Land / acre
54.7"Annual rain
6.4% of yrsSevere drought
12.8 / yr (+11.2)Mid-century 100°F days
15.4 daysMid-century dry spell
2.39" (+6.1%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.6×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
$1,734Home insurance / yr
1.1% / yrInsurance growth
0.88%Nonrenewal rate
county median (2+ published ZIPs)Insurance basis
36,978People within 30 min
2,440,326People within 2 hr
37,921Radius comparison (15 mi)
48.3People / sq mi
3.6%Federal land
82.5%Land at 15% slope or less
0%Septic soil without severe limits
0 acWorkable land screen
60.3%Wooded land
64.3 tonsBiomass / forest ac
59.3°FAvg temp

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Answers from the rulebook for Carroll County

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

Carroll County rules

  • Who permits septicState

    Subsurface sewage disposal systems in Carroll County

    • Applications and fees are sent to the Tennessee Division of Water Resources at the appropriate Environmental Field Office.
    • The official state page states that contract counties may require an additional installer permit and lists the contract counties; Carroll County is not listed among them.
    “Completed application forms and application fees should be sent to the Division of Water Resources at the appropriate Environmental Field Office. A detailed review of the application is conducted, and the applicant is notified when the review is complete.”

Tennessee rules that apply here

  • Building permitLimited

    State residential building permits for one- and two-family dwellings and townhouses in Tennessee jurisdictions where the State Fire Marshal's Office administers the residential building permit program.

    • The state permit is required only in some areas because other jurisdictions may enforce local residential building codes.
    • A county legislative body may remove unincorporated areas from the state program or a city legislative body may remove the city by a two-thirds vote.
    • The state permit does not replace grading or fill approval, floodplain compliance, septic or sewer permits, electrical permits, or zoning approval.
    • Local governments remain responsible for locally adopted codes and other requirements.
    “Why is the state residential building permit only required in some areas of the state?”
  • 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).”
  • Certificate of occupancyLimited

    Certificates of occupancy for one- and two-family dwellings in Tennessee opt-out or non-code jurisdictions when the State Fire Marshal's Office inspects the dwelling during construction.

    • The owner or contractor may obtain a state building permit to request the inspection.
    • The Certificate of Occupancy is released only if the dwelling is determined to meet statewide building construction safety standards.
    • The source describes this process for opt-out or non-code jurisdictions and for new construction or additions to existing homes.
    “determined to meet the statewide building construction safety standards, the State Fire Marshal’s Office will release a Certificate of Occupancy”
  • Septic permitRequired

    Installation of a subsurface sewage disposal system on property in Tennessee, and repair of an existing faulty system.

    • A Septic System Construction Permit is required before installation or repair.
    • The application requires site and system information; soils maps may be required and large conventional or alternative systems require a licensed-engineer design.
    • The review generally takes 10 days and must be completed within 45 days.
    • New conventional permit fee is $400 up to 1,000 gallons per day, plus $100 for each additional 1,000 gallons per day.
    • New alternative permit fee is $500 up to 1,000 gallons per day, plus $150 for each additional 1,000 gallons per day.
    • Experimental SSDS permit fee is $500.
    • Repair permits have no permit fee; repair construction inspection fee is $100.
    • Contract counties Blount, Davidson, Hamilton, Jefferson, Knox, Madison, Sevier, Shelby, and Williamson may require an additional permit.

    new conventional SSDS permit fee: 400 USD up to 1000 gallons per day design flow ($100 for each additional 1000 gpd flow) · new alternative SSDS permit fee: 500 USD up to 1000 gallons per day design flow ($150 for each additional 1000 gpd flow) · experimental SSDS permit fee: 500 USD · repair permit fee: No permit fee

    “Any individual or property owner who desires to have a subsurface sewage disposal (septic) system installed on their property or requiring repair to an existing faulty system must get a Septic System Construction Permit.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Required — Installation of a subsurface sewage disposal system or repair of an existing faulty system serving property in Carroll County
      “Any individual or property owner who desires to have a subsurface sewage disposal (septic) system installed on their property or requiring repair to an existing faulty system must get a Septic System Construction Permit.”
  • 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.

  • Inspections — Residential building inspections in Carroll County
  • County-wide zoning — Countywide zoning in Carroll County, Tennessee
  • Local zoning — Zoning rules across incorporated and unincorporated areas of Carroll County
  • Zoning districts — Published zoning districts or zoning maps for Carroll County
  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size in Carroll County
14 more unanswered
  • Minimum lot size
  • Setbacks
  • Lot coverage
  • Building height
  • Living in an RV
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Manufactured homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Subdividing land
  • Building in a floodplain
  • Short-term rentals

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 Carroll County, Tennessee

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

Carroll County scores 79/100 on the Bolthole Index, a strong county profile. Its strengths: manageable long-term carry cost and low administrative friction for a quiet rural property.

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

Carroll County does not require a county building permit for a home in unincorporated areas. Onsite septic is permitted by Tennessee Dept of Environment and Conservation (TDEC), Division of Water Resources. 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 Carroll County, Tennessee?

Land in Carroll County runs about $3,459 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in Carroll County?

Carroll County gets about 54.7" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 6.4% of years.

How remote is Carroll County?

A representative private-land location has about 36,978 people within a 30-minute drive and 2,440,326 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 Carroll County means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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How Carroll compares in Tennessee

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