Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Tusculum, Tennessee

Tusculum’s own rules

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  Buildings and structures inside Tusculum city

  • Code copy is 2020 vintage; the city may have updated editions since.
  • Building official is designated by the board; code also adopts plumbing, electrical, fuel gas, residential, energy, mechanical and property maintenance codes (Title 12 chapter list).

  International Building Code edition: 2012 (plus subsequent amendments or additions)

  “the international building code,2 2012 edition, and all subsequent amendments or additions to the said code, as prepared and adopted by the international code council, is hereby adopted and incorporated by reference”

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Tusculum city limits

  • The zoning ordinance and amendments are separate documents kept by the city recorder and were not in the code PDF.

  “land use within the city of tusculum shall be governed by the "zoning ordinance, tusculum, tennessee."”

• Manufactured homesProhibited

  House trailers, mobile homes and mobile home parks inside Tusculum city

  • Those in existence before 20 August 1973 are deemed legally placed, but expansion of an existing park is prohibited.
  • Code is dated 2020; later amendments not checked.

  “the parking, setting up, expansion of, storage, use, living in, or operation of a house trailer, mobile home, or mobile home park or parks within the corporate limits of the city of tusculum is prohibited.”

• Septic permitRequired

  New septic systems inside Tusculum city where no accessible sewer exists

  • Septic permitted only where an accessible sewer does not exist.
  • Design and construction per health officer specifications.

  “no septic tank or other water-carried sewage disposal system except a connection to a public sewer shall be installed without the approval of the health officer or his duly appointed representative.”

• Mandatory utility hookupConditional

  Residences and buildings inside Tusculum city

  • Applies wherever an accessible sewer exists and water under pressure is available.
  • Connection must comply with requirements of the official responsible for the public sewerage system.

  “wherever an accessible sewer exists and water under pressure is available, approved plumbing facilities shall be provided and the wastes from such facilities shall be discharged through a connection to said sewer made in compliance with the requirements of the official responsible for the public 18-3 sewerage system.”

Still unanswered

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

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