Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Town of Alexandria, Tennessee

Town of Alexandria’s own rules

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  Buildings inside Alexandria town

  • Town page lists International Building Code 2009 edition and International Fire Code 2018 edition adopted by reference
  • State residential code (2018 IRC and 2018 IECC) applies to one- and two-family dwellings under the state enforcement program

  International Building Code edition: 2009 year (town page; state adopts 2018 IRC/IECC for residential)

  “the international building code, 2009 edition, as prepared and adopted by the international code council, is hereby adopted and incorporated by reference as a part of this code”

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Alexandria town limits

  • Zoning Ordinance No. 2019-3 and amendments; zoning map published separately
  • Municipal planning commission created under Title 14 ch. 1

  “land use within the town of alexandria shall be governed by ordinance number 2019-3, titled "zoning ordinance, town of alexandria, tennessee," and any amendments thereto.”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Zoning districts inside Alexandria town

  • Web zoning map carries an accuracy disclaimer; ordinance text controls
  • Ordinance includes residential (R-2 and others), B-1/B-2 business and public open space districts

  “town of alexandria zoning map digital zoning map disclaimer the web version of the alexandria zoning map is provided for reference”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  First residential district in the zoning ordinance (Article IV Sec. 1, listed immediately before the R-2 district; presumably R-1), inside Alexandria town

  • District name inferred from section order; verify heading
  • Additional units need 3,000 sq. ft. each
  • Lot width 75 feet for residences, 100 feet for uses permitted on appeal

  minimum lot area single family: >= 7500 sq ft

  “minimum lot area for single family 7,500 sq. ft. each additional dwelling unit 3,000 sq. ft. minimum lot width at building line: for residences 75 feet for uses permitted on appeal 100 feet”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — R-2 residential district (medium-high density) inside Alexandria town

    “minimum lot area for single family 6000 sq. ft. minimum lot area for each additional family 3000 sq. ft. minimum lot width at building line 60 feet minimum rear yard 30 feet”

• SetbacksSpecified

  First residential district in the zoning ordinance (presumably R-1) inside Alexandria town

  • Street setbacks depend on thoroughfare classification
  • Accessory structures not in required front or side yards; at least 5 feet from lot lines

  minimum rear yard: >= 30 ft · minimum side yard one/two story: >= 10 ft · street setback residential, minor street: >= 30 ft (arterial 60 ft, collector 40 ft)

  “residential uses: arterial streets 60 feet collector streets 40 feet minor streets 30 feet”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  First residential district in the zoning ordinance (presumably R-1) inside Alexandria town

  • Accessory structures may not cover more than 30 percent of any required rear yard

  maximum lot coverage: <= 40 percent

  “on any lot no more than forty (40) percent of the total area shall be covered by principal or accessory structure.”

• Building heightSpecified

  First residential district in the zoning ordinance (presumably R-1) inside Alexandria town

  • Accessory structures limited to two stories

  maximum principal structure height: <= 27 ft (and two stories)

  “principal structures shall not exceed two (2) stories nor twenty-seven (27) feet in height. no accessory structure shall exceed two (2) stories.”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Development in flood-prone areas inside Alexandria town

  • Floodplain development permit form posted; FEMA approval if required
  • Permit approval may take a few months
  • Floodplain provisions are also part of the zoning ordinance

  “town of alexandria permits and (if required) fema approval(s) are required prior to beginning construction.”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Alexandria

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

• Building permitRequired

  One- and two-family dwellings built inside Alexandria town limits (state residential building code enforcement program, as described on the town's page)

  • Applies to one- and two-family dwellings; permit must be purchased before breaking ground
  • Other building types not addressed in the quoted text

  “state residential building code enforcement program applies to one- and two-family dwellings built in alexandria city limits and within dekalb county - permits must be purchased prior to breaking ground.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Town of Alexandria or DeKalb County directly.

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption inside Alexandria town
• Inspections — Building inspections inside Alexandria town
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy inside Alexandria town
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling floor area inside Alexandria town
• Living in an RV — RV occupancy inside Alexandria town

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.