Bolthole Index

Dickson County, Tennessee

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

65Index Score / 100
#71 of 95 in Tennessee

Dickson County, Tennessee requires a building permit before you start construction on a home, issued by the county's Planning, Zoning & Codes Department12. County zoning applies in unincorporated Dickson County3. TDEC handles septic site evaluations, permits and final inspections, and the county requires septic approval or proof of sewer as part of its building-permit process4567.

At a glance

Building permit
Required; issued by the Planning, Zoning & Codes Department12
Zoning
Yes, a countywide Zoning Resolution applies to unincorporated Dickson County3
Septic permit
Required for installation, modification or repair; handled by TDEC45
Septic soil suitability
About 26.6% of county soils rate free of severe limits for a conventional drain field8
Owner-builder exemption
Yes, one permit every two years to build your own residence910
Driveway permit (county road)
Required before building a driveway that connects to a county road; minimum 20 feet wide11
Driveway permit (state highway)
A separate TDOT permit is required before building a driveway onto a state highway12

Who to call

Building permits

Dickson County Planning, Zoning & Codes Department

Building permits, zoning enforcement and code administration for unincorporated Dickson County

(615) 789-6740

5 Court Square, Charlotte, TN 37036

Building permits

Dickson County Planning, Zoning & Codes Department

Publishes the county's building permit requirements, fee schedule, septic/911-address prerequisites and floodplain elevation requirement

(615) 789-6740

Roads & driveways

Dickson County Highway Department

Maintenance of Dickson County roads: paving, grading, ditching, and driveway permits onto county roads

(615) 446-2638

4010 Hwy 48 N, Charlotte, TN 37036

Roads & driveways

Dickson County Highway Department

Issues the driveway permit required before building a driveway that connects to the county road system

615-446-2638

Online permits →

Zoning

Dickson County Planning, Zoning & Codes Department

Publishes the Dickson County Zoning Resolution, including its Temporary Use Permit rules for a temporary mobile home dwelling

Septic permits

TDEC Nashville Environmental Field Office

The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation field office serving Dickson County for water-resources matters, including Subsurface Sewage Disposal System (septic) permits

(615) 687-7000

711 R.S. Gass Blvd, Nashville, TN 37216

Online permits →

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 Dickson County, Tennessee?

Yes. Dickson County requires a building permit before construction begins on a home, and the Planning, Zoning & Codes Department publishes the application requirements and fee schedule17. The application materials include a copy of the septic permit or proof of sewer, a site plan and a 911 address13. Permit fees follow the county's valuation-based schedule, with International Code Council valuation figures subject to change14. The county also charges an Adequate Facilities Tax of $1.00 per square foot of heated and cooled living area and a $60.00 plumbing fee14. Call Planning, Zoning & Codes at (615) 789-6740 for the current valuation and total before budgeting7.

Who is the Dickson County building department, and how do you reach them?

The Dickson County Planning, Zoning & Codes Department is at 5 Court Square, Charlotte, TN 37036, phone (615) 789-67402. The department publishes the county's required building-permit items and directs applicants to its fee schedule7. A proposed building site in a mapped floodplain also requires the lowest-floor elevation in relation to mean sea level13. Because the valuation figures are subject to change, call the department for the current valuation and fee rather than relying on an old estimate147.

Does Dickson County have zoning?

Yes. Dickson County has adopted a countywide Zoning Resolution that governs land use in unincorporated areas, which sets it apart from Tennessee counties that leave land use entirely to state law3. Tennessee law delegates zoning authority to county legislative bodies for the parts of a county outside municipal corporations, which is the basis for Dickson County's own resolution15. That same state law carves out an exception for farm buildings: a building or structure on land devoted to agricultural use, and incidental to the agricultural enterprise, is generally exempt from county zoning regulation, with exceptions near state or federal-aid highways, public airports, public parks, or land within the mapped floodplain16.

How do septic permits work in Dickson County?

TDEC, not Dickson County, handles septic site evaluations and permits4. A permit is required to install, modify or repair a septic system, and it should be obtained before dirt work, the building pad or other building construction begins5. A TDEC Environmental Scientist evaluates the site to determine the required system type4. After installation, the installer must arrange a final inspection before covering the system; TDEC issues a Certificate of Completion if the work is approved6. The Nashville Environmental Field Office serving Dickson County is at 711 R.S. Gass Blvd, Nashville, TN 37216, phone (615) 687-700017. Only about 26.6% of county soils rate free of severe limitations for a conventional drain field, so make the site evaluation an early contingency8. The county requires the septic permit or proof of sewer in its building-permit materials13.

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

We could not confirm a general rule allowing residential or long-term RV occupancy, temporary camping or tiny-home occupancy on private land in Dickson County. County zoning applies in unincorporated areas, so ask Planning, Zoning & Codes how the parcel's zoning district treats the proposed dwelling before buying or moving one onto the land32. The county resolution describes a narrow Temporary Use Permit for a mobile home, excluding double-wides, when a principal home was destroyed by fire, explosion or natural phenomenon18. That hardship permit may be renewed for up to six months at a time, with all permits totaling no more than 21 months18. That provision does not answer whether an RV or tiny home may serve as a residence on otherwise vacant land, so get a parcel-specific answer from the department2.

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

  1. Confirm the deed for your land is recorded in your name; Dickson County only issues a building permit to the recorded land owner or a licensed contractor13.
  2. Apply to TDEC for the required septic permit before dirt work, a building pad or other building construction, or obtain proof of sewer service; the county requires one of those documents in its building-permit materials513.
  3. Get a 911 address and prepare a site plan showing the shape, location and dimensions of the lot and any structures, including floodplain elevation information if your site is mapped in a Special Flood Hazard Area13.
  4. Apply for your building permit through the Planning, Zoning & Codes Department at 5 Court Square, Charlotte, TN 37036, budgeting for the valuation-based permit fee plus the $1.00-per-square-foot Adequate Facilities Tax and $60.00 plumbing fee214.
  5. If you are supervising construction of your own residence, note Tennessee's owner-builder exemption allows one permit every two years for a residence that will not be sold, leased or rented, and that hiring anyone paid over $25,000 requires that person to be a licensed contractor910.
  6. If your driveway will connect to a county road, get a driveway permit from the Highway Department before building it; the driveway must be at least 20 feet wide11.
  7. If your driveway will instead connect to a state highway, get a driveway permit from TDOT before construction12.
  8. Have the septic installer schedule TDEC's final inspection before the system is covered; an approved installation receives a Certificate of Completion6.

What to check before you buy land in Dickson County

Dickson County is heavily wooded and only about half gently sloped: roughly 70.8% of the land is forested, and about 47.7% sits at 15% slope or less, so clearing and grading can be a bigger part of your budget here than in flatter counties1920. Septic soils are better than in many rural counties but still limited: about 26.6% of soils rate free of severe limits for a conventional drain field, so budget for the possibility of an alternative system8. Farmland here has averaged around $5,919 an acre and a typical home value near $366,270 in recent data2122; a typical property tax bill runs about $1,369 a year at an effective rate near 0.5%, and a typical home insurance premium is around $1,818 a year232425. The county sees roughly 52.3 inches of precipitation a year and severe drought in about 3.1% of years2627. The nearest city of 100,000 or more people is about 31 miles away, reflecting Dickson County's position just outside the Nashville metro28. Before closing, confirm zoning and floodplain status with Planning, Zoning & Codes, and confirm your driveway access with the Highway Department if it will touch a county road229.

Watch-outs

  • Dickson County's building-permit fee is only part of the cost: budget separately for the $1.00-per-square-foot Adequate Facilities Tax and the $60.00 plumbing fee on top of the valuation-based permit fee14.
  • We could not confirm Dickson County's rules for residential RV use, temporary camping or tiny-home occupancy; ask Planning, Zoning & Codes for a parcel-specific answer before relying on one as housing2.
  • If your driveway connects to a county road you need a Highway Department driveway permit (minimum 20 feet wide) before building it; a driveway onto a state highway needs a separate TDOT permit instead1112.

Sources

  1. Dickson County - How to Obtain a Building Permit (2026 county census)
  2. Dickson County Planning, Zoning & Codes Department (dicksoncountytn.gov)
  3. Dickson County Zoning Resolution (2026 county census)
  4. SSDS Frequently Asked Questions, quoted and re-checked
  5. SSDS Frequently Asked Questions, quoted and re-checked
  6. SSDS Frequently Asked Questions, quoted and re-checked
  7. How to Obtain a Building Permit in Dickson County, quoted and re-checked
  8. Share of soils without severe limits for a conventional septic drain field (USDA SSURGO): Bolthole Index county data
  9. Can I build my own home without a license? (2026 county census)
  10. Can I build my own home without a license? (Tennessee statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  11. Dickson County Highway Department (dicksoncountytn.gov)
  12. Highway Entrance Permits (Tennessee statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  13. Dickson County Planning, Zoning & Codes Department (dicksoncountytn.gov)
  14. How to Obtain a Building Permit in Dickson County, quoted and re-checked
  15. Tennessee Attorney General Opinion No. 10-108 (Tennessee statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  16. Exemption from County Zoning Regulation for Buildings on Land Used for Agriculture, Opinion No. 22-07 (Tennessee statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  17. TDEC Nashville Environmental Field Office (tn.gov)
  18. Dickson County Planning, Zoning & Codes Department (dicksoncountytn.gov)
  19. Wooded share of land: Bolthole Index county data
  20. Share of land at 15% slope or less: Bolthole Index county data
  21. Farmland value per acre (USDA census): Bolthole Index county data
  22. Typical home value (Zillow): Bolthole Index county data
  23. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data
  24. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  25. Typical home insurance premium: Bolthole Index county data
  26. Annual precipitation: Bolthole Index county data
  27. Share of years in severe drought: Bolthole Index county data
  28. Distance to the nearest metro area: Bolthole Index county data
  29. Dickson County Highway Department (dicksoncountytn.gov)

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.

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County locator

Dickson County in Tennessee

65
County map
Dickson County highlighted among the Tennessee counties · colored by Index score

How Dickson County scores

Seclusion32100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency70100% ev.
Admin Boringness46100% ev.
Durability73100% ev.
Property Autonomy71100% ev.
Carry Cost75100% 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 →

$366kTypical home
0.5%Property tax
$5,919Land / acre
52.3"Annual rain
3.1% of yrsSevere drought
13.2 / yr (+12)Mid-century 100°F days
14.9 daysMid-century dry spell
2.55" (+8.5%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.58×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
$1,818Home insurance / yr
2.4% / yrInsurance growth
0.98%Nonrenewal rate
county median (2+ published ZIPs)Insurance basis
73,736People within 30 min
3,506,232People within 2 hr
73,332Radius comparison (15 mi)
115.8People / sq mi
0.3%Federal land
47.7%Land at 15% slope or less
26.6%Septic soil without severe limits
81,038 acWorkable land screen
70.8%Wooded land
60.5 tonsBiomass / forest ac
58.4°FAvg temp

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Answers from the rulebook for Dickson County

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

Dickson County rules

  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    County building-permit fees and related charges described in the Dickson County permit guide.

    • Valuation-based fees use the Appendix L schedule.
    • The guide states that International Code Council valuation figures are subject to change.
    • An Adequate Facilities Tax of $1.00 per square foot of heated and cooled living area and a $60.00 plumbing fee also apply.

    adequate facilities tax: per 1 USD per square foot (heated and cooled living area) · plumbing fee: 60 USD

    “There will also be a charge for an Adequate Facilities Tax of $1.00 per square foot of the heated and cooled (living area), and a $60.00 Plumbing Fee.”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    The county-published process and fee schedule for obtaining a building permit.

    • The guide directs applicants to Appendix L for the permit-fee schedule.
    • The guide gives the Planning, Zoning & Codes Department phone number for questions.
    “Required items needed in order to obtain a building permit: [...] For questions about obtaining a Permit in Dickson County, please contact the Planning, Zoning & Codes Department (615) 789-6740.”
  • County-wide zoningPresent

    Dickson County has adopted a countywide Zoning Resolution governing land use in unincorporated areas.

    Dickson County Zoning Resolution ↗Scouted from the county site, not yet independently re-checked

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”
  • Who permits septicState

    Subsurface sewage disposal systems serving property in Dickson County, a non-contract county under the TDEC application page.

    • TDEC conducts the site evaluation and final inspection process described on the SSDS FAQ page.
    “A TDEC Environmental Scientist will conduct a site evaluation to determine the type of septic system required for your property.”
  • 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 — Construction, modification, or repair of septic systems in Dickson County.
      “A Conventional Septic System Permit is required for the installation of a conventional septic system [...] A Septic System Repair Permit is required before any work on a failing septic system is performed. [...] A Septic System Modification Permit is required if an existing septic system or issued septic system permit needs to be modified.”
  • Septic inspectionRequired

    Final inspection of septic installations in Dickson County.

    • The final inspection occurs before the system is covered.
    • If approved, TDEC issues a Certificate of Completion.
    “When installation is complete, the installer will contact the local Environmental Scientist to schedule a final inspection before the system is covered. If the septic system installation is approved, the Environmental Scientist will issue a Certificate of Completion.”
  • 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”
  • 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.

  • Building code adopted — Building-code adoption in Dickson County.
  • Inspections — Building inspections in Dickson County.
  • Local zoning — Zoning administered by Dickson County or incorporated municipalities within the county.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size in Dickson County.
  • Minimum lot size — Minimum lot size in Dickson County.
11 more unanswered
  • Setbacks
  • Lot coverage
  • Building height
  • Living in an RV
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Manufactured homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • 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 Dickson County, Tennessee

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

Dickson County scores 65/100 on the Bolthole Index, a strong county profile. Its strengths: manageable long-term carry cost and mixed durability signals. Watch-outs: about 73,736 people within a 30-minute drive.

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

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

Land in Dickson County runs about $5,919 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in Dickson County?

Dickson County gets about 52.3" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 3.1% of years.

How remote is Dickson County?

A representative private-land location has about 73,736 people within a 30-minute drive and 3,506,232 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 Dickson County means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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How Dickson compares in Tennessee

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