Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Soddy-Daisy, Tennessee

Soddy-Daisy’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Construction and use of buildings inside Soddy-Daisy city (zoning permit)

  • Evidence shows a zoning permit requirement only; the separate building-code permit was not verified.
  • The ordinance also establishes the office of building inspector.

  “requiring zoning permits for the construction and use of buildings and premises within said districts, establishing the office of building inspector”

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Soddy-Daisy city limits

  • The ordinance cites the Soddy-Daisy Municipal Planning Commission and the city's board of zoning appeals.

  “an ordinance establishing zone districts within the city of soddy-daisy, regulating the uses of property therein”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Zoning districts inside Soddy-Daisy city

  • The ordinance lists A-1, R-1, R-2, R-2A, R-3, R-3MD, MH, TCM, C-2, C-3, O-1, M-2, M-1, FH, R-5 and R-T/Z districts; the map was not reviewed.

  “schedule of district regulations a-1 agricultural district r-1 single family residential district r-2 urban residential district r-2a rural residential district;. r-3 apartment-townhouse district”

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  Single-family dwellings inside Soddy-Daisy city (definition applies citywide)

  • Two-family and multi-family units must be at least 600 sq ft each.
  • Site-built and permitted modular homes require a permanent foundation.

  minimum gross floor area, single-family: >= 800 sq ft

  “single-family dwelling� shall have a gross floor area of not less than eight hundred (800) square feet of living space. site built homes and permitted modular homes shall be required to have a permanent foundation.”

• Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  R-1 single family residential district (section 150 series) inside Soddy-Daisy city

  • Minimum lot area varies with water and sewer service: 5,000 sq ft with public water and sanitary sewer, 13,500 sq ft with public water and septic tanks (this column order was read from a garbled table and is not certain), and 25,000 sq ft with individual wells and septic tanks.
  • Frontage is 50 ft with public water and sewer and 65 ft with public water and septic tanks.
  • The R-1 label is inferred from the section order in the schedule of district regulations.

  minimum lot area, individual wells and septic tanks: >= 25000 sq ft · minimum road frontage, public water and sewer: >= 50 ft · minimum road frontage, public water and septic: >= 65 ft

  “in addition to the minimum lot area, lots used for residential development in the r-1 single family residential, r-2 urban residential and r-2a rural residential districts shall have a minimum road frontage of 50 feet when such dwellings are connected to public water and sanitary sewers, or a minimum road frontage of 65 feet when such dwellings are connected to public water and septic tanks.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • District specific (with conditions) — A-1 agricultural district (section 100 series, inferred from section order) inside Soddy-Daisy city

    “minimum lot area the minimum lot area of each lot shall be one-half acre. in addition to the minimum lot area, lots shall have a minimum depth of one hundred feet (100') and a minimum frontage of seventy-five feet (75').”

• SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

  R-1 single family residential district (section 150 series) inside Soddy-Daisy city

  • Subject to the exceptions in Articles V and VII; corner lots are covered by Article V, section 103.3.
  • Rear yard was not captured.

  front yard: >= 25 ft · side yard: >= 10 ft

  “front yard required except as provided in articles v and vii, there shall be on each lot a front yard of a minimum depth of twenty-five (25').”

• Lot coverageDistrict specific (with conditions)

  A-1 agricultural district (section 100 series, inferred from section order) inside Soddy-Daisy city

  • R-1 occupancy limit was deleted by 2015-16 ord. 7, so no R-1 figure is given.

  dwelling share of lot: <= 35 percent · all buildings share of lot: <= 50 percent

  “no dwelling shall occupy more than thirty-five percent (35%) of its lot, and no building shall occupy more than fifty percent (50%) of its lot.”

• Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)

  R-1 single family residential district (section 150 series) inside Soddy-Daisy city

  • Exceptions in Articles V and VII and special conditional permits.
  • The A-1 district has the same limit.

  maximum height: <= 35 ft (or 2.5 stories)

  “no building shall exceed two and.one-half (2 yz) stories or thirty-five feet (35') in height.”

• Living in an RVLimited

  RV or travel trailer occupancy inside Soddy-Daisy city

  • Motor homes and travel trailers are excluded from the definition of dwelling.
  • Travel trailers are allowed in mobile home parks and travel trailer camps with a temporary use permit; camp stays are limited to 90 days.

  “motor homes or travel trailers may be used as a temporary structure when a use permitted on review is granted by the soddy-daisy municipal planning commission and all provisions of article x, section 300 have been met.”

• Short-term rentalsLimited

  Short-term rental units (rented under 30 continuous days) inside Soddy-Daisy city

  • Short-term rentals are treated as home occupations and must comply with Article V, section 106.
  • An operating permit and inspection by the building inspector and fire marshal are required; a $25 re-inspection fee applies after a failed inspection.
  • On-site parking of one space per four guests is required; no street parking.
  • Civil penalty is $50 per day.

  permit decision time: <= 14 business days · parking: per 1 space per 4 guests

  “once the building inspector/codes enforcement officer or his/her designee has determined that the application is complete, a permit shall be issued or denied within fourteen (14) business days.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Soddy-Daisy or Hamilton County directly.

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption inside Soddy-Daisy city
• Building code adopted — Building code adopted inside Soddy-Daisy city
• Inspections — Building inspections inside Soddy-Daisy city
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy inside Soddy-Daisy city
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping inside Soddy-Daisy 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.