Bolthole Index

Fayette County, Tennessee

Building permits, zoning and septic rules in Somerville, Tennessee

Inside the Town of Somerville, Tennessee, you need a building permit from the town's Building Inspector before you excavate or build, and the work must conform to the town's zoning ordinance1. Zoning is the town's own. Septic permits for a lot in Somerville come from the state environmental department (TDEC), not the town2. Land outside town limits falls under Fayette County.

At a glance

Building permit
Required from the town's Building Inspector, including for accessory buildings1
Zoning
Town zoning ordinance applies; work must conform to it1
Certificate of occupancy
Required before a new or altered building is used3
Septic
State permit required; TDEC evaluates the site24
RV living
Rule found only for flood-hazard sites; other lots unconfirmed5
Owner-builder
State law lets an owner build one home every two years for personal use6

Who to call

Building permits

Town of Somerville (Town Hall)

Main town line; ask for the Building Inspector and planning staff for building permits, certificates of occupancy and zoning questions

(901) 465-9500

13085 N. Main Street

Septic permits

TDEC Memphis Environmental Field Office

State septic assistance and Division of Water Resources 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 October 24, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Town of Somerville means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Do you need a building permit in Somerville, Tennessee?

Yes. Somerville's zoning ordinance makes it unlawful to start excavation for any building, including accessory buildings, or to move or alter one, until the Building Inspector has issued a building permit1. The permit is conditional on a sketch or scale plan, conformity with the zoning ordinance and other town ordinances, and payment of the fee, and a permit lapses six months after issuance unless substantial progress has been made1. Refusals must be in writing with the cause7.

Who issues building permits in Somerville, and how do you reach them?

Building permits inside Somerville come from the town's Building Inspector, not from Fayette County1. The application needs a dimensioned sketch or scale plan showing the lot and the shape, size, height and location of every building to be built, altered or moved, plus any building already on the lot7. Call Somerville Town Hall at (901) 465-9500 and ask for the Building Inspector8. We could not confirm a direct line, email or portal for the Building Inspector, and we could not confirm which building-code edition the town enforces; ask Town Hall.

Does Somerville have zoning, and what does it mean for RVs and tiny homes?

Somerville enforces its own zoning ordinance, and a building permit is issued only when the proposed work conforms to it1. A certificate of occupancy is also required before new or altered land or buildings are used, and the Building Inspector issues it only if the use conforms to the ordinance3. For recreational vehicles, the one rule we confirmed covers identified flood-hazard sites: an RV there must stay fewer than 180 consecutive days or be fully licensed and ready for highway use, and past 180 days it must meet new-construction anchoring and elevation requirements5. We could not confirm town rules for living in an RV elsewhere in town, tiny homes, accessory dwellings, minimum lot size or setbacks; ask Town Hall before you buy.

How do septic permits work inside Somerville?

A septic system permit is required to construct, modify or repair a septic system on a lot inside Somerville2. The state, not the town, handles it: a TDEC Environmental Scientist conducts a site evaluation to determine the type of system the property needs4. After installation, the installer calls the local Environmental Scientist for a final inspection before the system is covered, and a Certificate of Completion follows approval9. Fayette County is served by the TDEC Memphis Environmental Field Office at (901) 371-300010. If public sewer is available to your lot, the wastewater method may differ; we could not confirm the town's sewer-connection rule, so ask Town Hall.

Building a home in Somerville: the steps, in order

  1. Ask Town Hall at (901) 465-9500 which zoning district the lot is in and whether town sewer reaches it8.
  2. If the lot needs a septic system, request a TDEC site evaluation and septic permit2.
  3. Submit a dimensioned sketch or scale plan to the Building Inspector and pay the fee7.
  4. Start substantial work within six months of the building permit being issued1.
  5. Request the final inspection; the Building Inspector is to make it within three days of notification that the building is ready11.
  6. Do not occupy the building until the certificate of occupancy is issued3.

What stays with Fayette County, and what to check before you buy

Fayette County's rules apply to unincorporated land, not to lots inside Somerville; see the Fayette County page for land outside town limits. Tennessee lets an owner build one single residence every two years for personal use without a contractor license, though hired work worth $25,000 or more is not exempt12. Fayette County's effective property tax rate is about 0.3% and the median bill is about $1,092 a year1314. Only 5.1% of Fayette County soils rate as not limited for a conventional septic drain field, so expect a site evaluation and possibly an engineered system15.

Watch-outs

  • We could not confirm whether the town has a private-well rule, a driveway-access approval for new homes, or short-term rental limits; ask Town Hall at (901) 465-95008.
  • Property in a mapped flood-hazard area faces extra rules for RVs, including new-construction anchoring and elevation requirements after 180 consecutive days16.
  • Planned Residential Developments are reviewed under the zoning ordinance and the subdivision regulations at the same time17.

Sources

  1. Zoning Ordinance, Somerville, Tennessee (Town of Somerville), quoted and re-checked
  2. Subsurface Sewage Disposal System (SSDS) Frequently Asked Questions (Town of Somerville), quoted and re-checked
  3. Zoning Ordinance, Somerville, Tennessee (Town of Somerville), quoted and re-checked
  4. Construction Permit for Subsurface Sewage Disposal Systems (Town of Somerville), quoted and re-checked
  5. Zoning Ordinance, Somerville, Tennessee (Town of Somerville), quoted and re-checked
  6. Residential Permit FAQs (2026 county census)
  7. Zoning Ordinance, Somerville, Tennessee (Town of Somerville), quoted and re-checked
  8. Town of Somerville (Town Hall) (somervilletn.gov)
  9. Subsurface Sewage Disposal System (SSDS) Frequently Asked Questions (Town of Somerville), quoted and re-checked
  10. TDEC Memphis Environmental Field Office (tn.gov)
  11. Zoning Ordinance, Somerville, Tennessee (Town of Somerville), quoted and re-checked
  12. Residential Permit FAQs, quoted and re-checked
  13. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  14. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data
  15. Share of soils USDA rates "not limited" for a conventional septic drain field (SSURGO). A strict rating: the median county is about 6% and a tenth of counties are 0%, so a low figure means most lots need a site evaluation or an engineered system, not that septic is impossible. Cite it only with that caveat: Bolthole Index county data
  16. Zoning Ordinance, Somerville, Tennessee (Town of Somerville), quoted and re-checked
  17. Zoning Ordinance, Somerville, Tennessee (Town of Somerville), quoted and re-checked

Written October 24, 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.

Answers from the rulebook for Town of Somerville

Town of Somerville’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Excavation, construction, moving, or alteration of a building, including accessory buildings, inside Somerville town limits.

    • Applicant must submit the required sketch or scale plan and other information requested by the Building Inspector.
    • The proposed work must conform with the zoning ordinance and other Town ordinances in force.
    • Required fee must be paid.
    • Permit becomes void six months after issuance unless substantial progress has been made.

    permit-validity: 6 months (Unless substantial progress has been made on the described project.)

    “It shall be unlawful to commence the excavation for the construction of any building, including accessory buildings, or to commence the moving or alteration of any building, including accessory buildings until the Building Inspector has issued a building permit for such work.”
  • InspectionsRequired

    Final inspection of a land, building, or part thereof that is ready for occupancy or use inside Somerville town limits.

    • The Building Inspector's final inspection follows notification that the building or premises is ready for occupancy or use.
    • The certificate is issued only if the land, building, part, and proposed use conform to the zoning ordinance.

    final-inspection-timing: <= 3 days (After notification that the building or premises is ready for occupancy or use.)

    “Within three (3) days after notification that a building or premises or part thereof is ready for occupancy or use, shall be the duty of the Building Inspector to make a final inspection thereof”
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    Land, buildings, or parts of buildings erected or altered in use or structure inside Somerville town limits.

    • Certificate requires the Building Inspector to find the land, building or part and proposed use conform to the zoning ordinance.
    • If refused, the Building Inspector must state the cause in writing.
    “No land or building or part thereof hereafter erected or altered in its use of structure shall be used until the Building Inspector shall have issued a certificate of occupancy”
  • Living in an RVLimited

    Recreational vehicles placed on identified flood-hazard sites inside Somerville town limits.

    • RV may remain fewer than 180 consecutive days; alternatively it must be fully licensed and ready for highway use.
    • If on the site longer than 180 consecutive days, it must meet new-construction requirements, including anchoring and elevation requirements.

    temporary-RV-period: < 180 consecutive days (On identified flood-hazard sites.)

    “All recreational vehicles placed on identified flood hazard sites must either: (1) Be on the site for fewer than 180 consecutive days; (2) Be fully licensed and ready for highway use.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Planned Residential Developments inside Somerville town limits.

    • The rule specifically addresses PRDs.
    • Subdivision review is to occur simultaneously with PRD review, and both zoning-ordinance and subdivision-regulation requirements apply.
    “It is the intent of this Ordinance that subdivision review under the Subdivision Regulations be carried out simultaneously with the review of a Planned Residential Development under this section of the Zoning Ordinance.”
  • Building in a floodplainLimited

    Recreational vehicles on identified flood-hazard sites inside Somerville town limits.

    • Applies to recreational vehicles placed on identified flood-hazard sites.
    • Vehicles on site longer than 180 consecutive days must meet new-construction, anchoring, and elevation requirements.

    RV-site-period: > 180 consecutive days (Longer placement triggers new-construction requirements.)

    “The recreational vehicle must meet all the requirements for new construction, including the anchoring and elevation requirements of this section above if on the site for longer than 180 consecutive days.”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Building-permit applications inside Somerville town limits.

    • Applicant must provide a dimensioned sketch or scale plan, existing and intended uses, and other information required by the Building Inspector.
    • The Building Inspector issues the permit upon conformity with the ordinance and payment of the required fee; refusal must be in writing with cause.
    “In applying to the building inspector for a building permit, the applicant shall submit a dimensioned sketch or scale plan indicating the shape, size and location of the lot to be built upon; the shape, size, height, and location of all buildings to be erected, altered, or moved, and of any building already on the lot.”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Somerville

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

  • Who permits septicState (with conditions)

    Subsurface sewage disposal systems serving property inside Somerville town limits when a septic system is used.

    • The system must be a subsurface sewage disposal system; public-sewer availability may change the applicable wastewater method.
    “A TDEC Environmental Scientist will conduct a site evaluation to determine the type of septic system required for your property.”
  • Septic permitRequired

    Installation, modification, or repair of a septic system serving land inside Somerville town limits.

    • Applies when a septic system is constructed, modified, or repaired.
    “A septic system permit is required for the construction, modification or repair of a septic system.”
  • Septic inspectionRequired

    New septic-system installations serving land inside Somerville town limits.

    • After installation, the installer contacts the local Environmental Scientist to schedule final inspection before the system is covered.
    • A Certificate of Completion follows approval.
    “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.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builders constructing homes inside Somerville town limits.
  • Building code adopted — Building-code adoption for construction inside Somerville town limits.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Single-family dwellings inside Somerville town limits.
  • Minimum lot size — Residential lots inside Somerville town limits.
  • Setbacks — Residential development inside Somerville town limits.
11 more unanswered
  • Lot coverage
  • Building height
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Driveway access
  • 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.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Town of Somerville publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Fayette County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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