Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Dyersburg, Tennessee

Dyersburg’s own rules

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  Buildings and structures inside Dyersburg city

  • Code text cites the 1999 Standard Building Code and 1998 CABO One and Two Family Dwelling Code; the city's current_code_editions page was not accessible and may list newer editions.
  • Building official is whoever the board of mayor and aldermen designates.

  “when the "building official" or "director of public works" is named it shall, for the purposes of the building code, mean such person as the board of mayor and aldermen shall have appointed or designated to administer and enforce the provisions of the building code.”

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Dyersburg city limits

  • Ordinance and amendments are published as separate documents of record in the city recorder's office; the zoning ordinance PDF itself could not be opened.

  “land use within the city of dyersburg shall be governed by ordinance number, titled "zoning ordinance, dyersburg, tennessee," and any amendments thereto.”

• Who permits septicMixed (with conditions)

  Private sewage disposal systems inside Dyersburg city's sewer service area

  • City public works issues the no-sewer-available certificate; Dyer County Health Department gives written permission and inspects.

  “before commencement of construction of a private sewage disposal system, the owner shall first obtain written permission from the dyer county health department.”

• Septic permitRequired

  New private sewage disposal systems inside Dyersburg city's service area (only where public sewer is not accessible)

  • Also requires a certificate from the superintendent that public sewer is not accessible and none is proposed in the immediate future.

  “a private domestic wastewater disposal system may not be constructed within the service area unless and until a certificate is obtained from the superintendent stating that a public sewer is not accessible to the property and no such sewer is proposed for construction in the immediate future.”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  New private sewage disposal systems inside Dyersburg city's service area

  • Owner must notify both departments when work is ready for final inspection and before underground portions are covered.

  “the owner shall notify the dyersburg public works department and dyer county health department when the work is ready for final inspection, and before any underground portions are covered.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Septic tanks and privies inside Dyersburg city's sewer service area

  • Permitted only after a certificate that public sewer is not accessible, plus county health department permission.
  • No certificate for subsurface systems on lots smaller than Dyer County Health Department specifies.

  “no certificate shall be issued for any private domestic wastewater disposal system employing subsurface soil absorption facilities where the area of the lot is less than that specified by dyer county health department.”

• Mandatory utility hookupWater and sewer (with conditions)

  Dwellings and buildings inside Dyersburg city

  • Water: required where a municipal water main is in front, rear or on either side of the premises.
  • Sewer: connect within 60 days of official notice, only where public sewer is within 500 feet of the building drain; exception for manufacturers with NPDES permit.

  sewer connection distance: <= 500 feet (measured to the building drain) · connection deadline after notice: <= 60 days

  “to connect within sixty (60) days after the date of official notice to do so, provided that said public sewer is within five hundred (500) feet of the building drain as defined herein.”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Building permit fees inside Dyersburg city

  • Fee schedule is on file with the city recorder; amounts not found online.

  “the permit fees shall be in accordance with the usual and customary fees promulgated and amended from time to time by the board of mayor and aldermen of the city of dyersburg.”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Building permits inside Dyersburg city
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption inside Dyersburg city
• Inspections — Building inspections inside Dyersburg city
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy inside Dyersburg city
• Zoning districts — Zoning districts inside Dyersburg 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.