Bolthole Index

Fayette County, Tennessee

Building permits, zoning and land rules in Fayette County, Tennessee

65Index Score / 100
#68 of 95 in Tennessee

Fayette County, Tennessee requires a building permit for construction, enlargement, alteration, repair, movement, improvement, removal, conversion or demolition of a building or structure1. The county also has zoning districts and land-use regulations2. TDEC, rather than the county, administers septic permitting and inspection34.

At a glance

Building permit
Required for construction and a broad range of work on buildings and structures1
Zoning
Yes; uses and development standards depend on the parcel's zoning district2
Septic
TDEC administers permits and inspections; septic approval comes before the county building permit356
RV living
Not confirmed; ask Planning and Development about the parcel and proposed duration7
Tiny home
No specific occupancy rule confirmed; zoning and building-permit review still apply81
Owner-builder
State allowance for one personal residence permit every two years, not for sale, lease or rent910
State-highway driveway
A TDOT permit is required before construction, modification or change of use11

Who to call

Building permits

Fayette County Planning and Development Office

Building permits, county zoning, subdivision review, code-enforcement intake and parcel-specific planning questions

901-465-5250

[email protected]

16265 Hwy 64 Somerville, TN 38068

Online permits →

Building permits

Fayette County Planning Office building-permit instructions

Published sequence and documentation for a building permit in unincorporated Fayette County

Septic permits

TDEC Memphis Environmental Field Office

Division of Water Resources and septic-related assistance for Fayette County

(901) 371-3000

8383 Wolf Lake Drive | Bartlett, TN 38133-4119

Online permits →

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 Fayette County, Tennessee?

Yes. Fayette County requires a building permit for construction, enlargement, alteration, repair, movement, improvement, removal, conversion or demolition of any building or structure1. For a home in unincorporated Fayette County, the county's published sequence requires an approved septic permit, an approved building-permit application and an approved plan review before the building permit can be issued6. Construction cannot begin until the permit is issued6. The permit instructions also separate electrical work from the county permit: electrical permits and electrical inspections go through the state6. Tennessee's statewide owner-builder allowance can let a property owner build a single residence for personal use, but it does not erase the Fayette County permit requirement91.

Who is the Fayette County building department, and how do you reach it?

Fayette County Planning and Development is the building-permit and zoning contact7. The office is at 16265 Hwy 64 in Somerville, and its main phone is 901-465-52507. Permit-related email can be sent to [email protected]7. The department's page links the building-permit application, zoning resolution, zoning map and subdivision regulations, and it describes zoning as the districts and regulations governing land use and development7. Use the same office to confirm the zoning district and application package for a specific rural parcel before commissioning final plans7. Fayette County's published home-permit instructions require the proposed dwelling location to be visibly marked and plans to show heated and unheated floor area plus plumbing fixtures6.

Does Fayette County have zoning?

Yes. Fayette County has zoning districts with regulations governing land use and development, and the standard that applies to a project depends on the parcel's district2. Do not carry one setback from the zoning resolution across every property because some standards are district-specific12. In the cited district provision, the road-right-of-way setback is 50 feet, while certain district-boundary and lot-line setbacks are 25 feet or 50 feet when adjoining a residential district12. That same district caps coverage by all structures, including accessory buildings, at 75 percent13. Tennessee provides a conditional county-zoning exemption for a structure on agricultural land when it is incidental to the agricultural enterprise, but highway, airport, park and floodplain exceptions can defeat it14.

How do septic permits work in Fayette County?

TDEC's Division of Water Resources, not Fayette County, administers septic permitting and inspection34. A septic permit is required to construct, modify or repair a septic system, and Fayette County requires approved septic authorization before it will issue the building permit56. After installation, the installer contacts the local Environmental Scientist for a final inspection before the system is covered; approval produces a Certificate of Completion15. TDEC's current Memphis Environmental Field Office page lists Fayette among the counties it serves and directs water-resources questions through its main line at (901) 371-300016. Only about 5.1 percent of Fayette County soils rate free of severe limits for a conventional drain field, so make septic feasibility an early contingency rather than assuming a conventional layout will work17.

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

Fayette County has not published a confirmed countywide answer here for long-term RV occupancy or for tiny-home occupancy. Ask Planning and Development at 901-465-5250 about the parcel's zoning district, the proposed structure or vehicle, utility connections and how long you intend to occupy it7. A tiny home is not automatically outside the permit system: Fayette County's building-permit rule covers construction, movement, improvement and conversion of buildings or structures1. Zoning also remains relevant because Fayette County regulates land use and development by district2. The county's minimum dwelling size and minimum lot area could not be confirmed, so obtain a parcel-specific answer from Planning and Development before buying land or ordering a unit7.

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

  1. Confirm the parcel's zoning district and applicable standards with Fayette County Planning and Development at 901-465-52507.
  2. Apply to TDEC for the septic permit; Fayette County requires septic approval before the building permit65.
  3. Mark the property at the road and stake or flag the proposed dwelling location6.
  4. Submit the county building-permit application and house plans showing heated and unheated floor area and plumbing fixtures for plan review6.
  5. Obtain the issued building permit before starting construction6.
  6. Pull electrical permits through Tennessee and use the state electrical inspector6.
  7. Arrange the septic final inspection before the system is covered15.
  8. If access connects to a state-highway right-of-way, get TDOT's entrance permit before constructing or changing the driveway11.

What to check before you buy land in Fayette County

Start with zoning and septic. Fayette County has district-based land-use standards, while only about 5.1 percent of its soils rate free of severe limits for a conventional drain field217. Confirm public sewer availability too: a qualifying Tennessee utility can require a building on an abutting parcel to connect to its sewer and stop using another sewage-disposal method18. Check road access because a driveway on state-highway right-of-way needs TDOT approval before construction or a change in use11. Most of the county is comparatively gentle terrain, with about 91.5 percent of land at a slope of 15 percent or less, but that does not substitute for a parcel survey or soil evaluation19. Fayette County's effective property-tax rate is about 0.3 percent, and the median annual property-tax bill is about $1,0922021.

Watch-outs

  • Do not begin construction before Fayette County issues the building permit, and remember that state electrical permits are separate from the county permit6.
  • Get septic feasibility resolved early: only about 5.1 percent of Fayette County soils rate free of severe limits for a conventional drain field17.
  • Long-term RV occupancy, tiny-home occupancy, minimum dwelling size and minimum lot area are not confirmed countywide; ask Planning and Development for a parcel-specific determination7.

Sources

  1. Planning and Development, quoted and re-checked
  2. Planning and Development, quoted and re-checked
  3. Fayette County TN - Planning and Development (refers to TDEC) (2026 county census)
  4. Planning and Development, quoted and re-checked
  5. Subsurface Sewage Disposal System Frequently Asked Questions, quoted and re-checked
  6. Fayette County Planning Office building-permit instructions (fayettetn.us)
  7. Fayette County Planning and Development Office (fayettetn.us)
  8. Planning and Development (2026 county census)
  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. Highway Entrance Permits (Tennessee statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  12. Zoning Resolution of Fayette County Tennessee, quoted and re-checked
  13. Zoning Resolution of Fayette County Tennessee, 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. Subsurface Sewage Disposal System Frequently Asked Questions, quoted and re-checked
  16. TDEC Memphis Environmental Field Office (tn.gov)
  17. Share of soils without severe limits for a conventional septic drain field (USDA SSURGO): Bolthole Index county data
  18. Utility Customers Frequently Asked Questions (Tennessee statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  19. Share of land at 15% slope or less: Bolthole Index county data
  20. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  21. 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.

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County locator

Fayette County in Tennessee

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

How Fayette County scores

Seclusion38100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency72100% ev.
Admin Boringness46100% ev.
Durability57100% ev.
Property Autonomy71100% ev.
Carry Cost79100% 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 →

$377kTypical home
0.3%Property tax
$4,273Land / acre
55.5"Annual rain
4.8% of yrsSevere drought
14.8 / yr (+13.5)Mid-century 100°F days
16.1 daysMid-century dry spell
2.49" (+5.1%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.51×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
$2,133Home insurance / yr
0.6% / yrInsurance growth
1.38%Nonrenewal rate
county median (2+ published ZIPs)Insurance basis
35,452People within 30 min
2,534,328People within 2 hr
56,733Radius comparison (15 mi)
62.7People / sq mi
0.1%Federal land
91.5%Land at 15% slope or less
5.1%Septic soil without severe limits
20,653 acWorkable land screen
52.8%Wooded land
42.4 tonsBiomass / forest ac
61°FAvg temp

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Answers from the rulebook for Fayette County

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

Fayette County rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Construction, enlargement, alteration, repair, movement, improvement, removal, conversion, or demolition of buildings or structures in Fayette County.

    “Fayette County requires a Building Permit for the construction, enlargement, alteration, repair, movement, improvement, removal, conversion, or demolition of any building or structure.”
  • County-wide zoningPresent (with conditions)

    County zoning districts and land-use regulations in Fayette County.

    • Specific uses and development standards depend on the applicable zoning district and the zoning resolution.
    “Zoning Established zoning districts and the regulations governing land use and development.”
  • SetbacksSpecified

    Section 6.3.4 building setbacks in the applicable Fayette County zoning district.

    • From any road right-of-way: 50 feet, except as required in Section 11 of Article V.
    • From a district boundary not common to a road right-of-way: 25 feet, except 50 feet where the building site adjoins a residential district.
    • From a lot line not common to a road right-of-way: 25 feet, except 50 feet where the building site adjoins a residential district.
    • Buildings exceeding 25 feet in height require one additional foot of setback for each foot exceeding 25 feet.

    road right-of-way setback: 50 feet (except as required in Section 11 of Article V) · district-boundary setback: 25 feet (50 feet where the building site adjoins a residential district) · lot-line setback: 25 feet (50 feet where the building site adjoins a residential district) · additional setback for height over 25 feet: per 1 foot per foot of excess height

    “6.3.4 Building Setback Requirements: a. From any road right-of-way - Fifty (50) feet, except as required in Section 11 of Article V. b. From a district boundary not common to a road right-of-way - Twenty-five (25) feet, except where the building site adjoins a residential district, then fifty (50) feet is required.”
  • Lot coverageSpecified

    Maximum lot coverage for all structures, including accessory buildings, under Section 6.3.3.3 of the Fayette County zoning resolution.

    • The cited standard applies to the zoning district covered by Section 6.3.3.

    maximum lot coverage: <= 75 percent (all structures, including accessory buildings)

    “6.3.3.3 Maximum Lot Coverage for all structures, including accessory buildings - Seventy-five (75) percent.”
  • Building heightSpecified

    Maximum building height under Section 6.3.3.4 of the Fayette County zoning resolution.

    • The 25-foot maximum applies unless the building meets the additional setback requirements of Section 6.3.4.d.

    maximum building height: 25 feet (unless the building meets the additional setback requirements of Section 6.3.4.d)

    “6.3.3.4 Maximum Building Height - Twenty-five (25) feet, unless the building meets the additional setback requirements of Section 6.3.4.d.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Proposed division of land subject to Fayette County subdivision regulations.

    • The county describes the standards as addressing adequate streets, drainage, utilities, and vehicular ingress and egress.
    “Ensures proposed division of land meets standards designed to guarantee adequate streets,drainage, utilities, means of vehicular ingress (entering the area) and egress (leaving the development).”

Tennessee rules that apply here

  • 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).”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    Statewide Tennessee building-code framework applicable where state enforcement has not been exempted or replaced by qualifying local enforcement.

    • The adopted code set includes different editions for commercial and residential applications.
    • Local governments may enforce qualifying local building codes.
    “The codes currently adopted by the Tennessee State Fire Marshal’s Office are: 1. International Building Code (IBC), 2021 edition, published by the International Code Council (ICC); See Appendix for amendments; 2. International Residential Code (IRC), 2018 edition, published by the ICC, with amendments;”
  • 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 (with conditions)

    Subsurface sewage disposal permitting and inspection applicable in Fayette County.

    • Fayette County's planning page directs groundwater-protection inquiries to TDEC.
    • TDEC Division of Water Resources administers the SSDS program.
    “An application is deemed complete when TDEC’s Division of Water Resources has everything needed to issue a permit.”
  • 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
  • Septic inspectionRequired

    Final inspection of septic installations before the system is covered.

    • The installer contacts the local Environmental Scientist to schedule the final inspection.
    • If approved, the Environmental Scientist 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”
  • 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 — Building inspections associated with Fayette County building permits.
  • Local zoning — Local zoning variation among incorporated municipalities and other local jurisdictions within Fayette County.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size requirements in Fayette County zoning districts.
  • Minimum lot size — Minimum lot area requirements in Fayette County zoning districts.
  • Living in an RV — Long-term or residential RV occupancy on property in Fayette County.
8 more unanswered
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Manufactured homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • 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 Fayette County, Tennessee

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

Fayette County scores 65/100 on the Bolthole Index, a strong county profile. Its strengths: manageable long-term carry cost and strong self-sufficiency basics: 55.5″/yr rainfall plus 52.8% wooded land. Watch-outs: about 35,452 people within a 30-minute drive.

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

Fayette 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 Fayette County, Tennessee?

Land in Fayette County runs about $4,273 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in Fayette County?

Fayette County gets about 55.5" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 4.8% of years.

How remote is Fayette County?

A representative private-land location has about 35,452 people within a 30-minute drive and 2,534,328 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 Fayette County means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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How Fayette compares in Tennessee

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