Bolthole Index

Haywood County, Tennessee

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

67Index Score / 100
#64 of 95 in Tennessee

Haywood County, Tennessee requires building permits and enforces locally adopted building codes.1 The county also has zoning, while septic construction, modification and repair require a state permit.23 Start with County Code Enforcement for the parcel's zoning and building path, then take the proposed home and septic layout to the appropriate reviewers.45

At a glance

Building permit
Required; confirm the project requirements with County Code Enforcement14
Building code
The county adopted the 2018 International Building Codes effective June 1, 20216
Zoning
Yes; verify the parcel's district and allowed use before designing27
Septic
TDEC permit and final inspection required38
RV living
General private-lot occupancy is unconfirmed; ask County Code Enforcement94
Tiny home
No general occupancy rule confirmed; zoning and building review still apply12
Owner-builder
State exemption is conditional and does not remove local permit review101

Who to call

Building permits

Haywood County Code Enforcement & Building Inspector

County building-code enforcement, inspections, planning coordination and mobile-home placement questions

731-779-3472

11 South Lafayette, Brownsville, TN 38012

Septic permits

TDEC Jackson Environmental Field Office

Septic-related inquiries for Haywood County

731-441-5593

1625 Hollywood Drive, Jackson, TN 38305

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 Haywood County, Tennessee?

Yes. Haywood County records residential building permits as required and has a Code Enforcement & Building Inspector office.1 The county adopted the 2018 International Building Codes effective June 1, 2021, with the adopted code set described as good for seven years.6 County staff work with builders and homeowners on new homes, remodeling, repairs and mobile-home placement.4

The county page does not publish a complete project-by-project permit list or fee schedule, so call Code Enforcement before ordering plans or materials.4 A county zoning site plan may need approval before a building permit or certificate of occupancy can be issued.11 Ask the office to identify the forms, reviews, inspections and current fees for the exact parcel and scope.4

Who handles building permits and zoning in Haywood County?

Haywood County Code Enforcement & Building Inspector is the practical first stop for county building and zoning questions at 11 South Lafayette, Brownsville, TN 38012; the office number is 731-779-3472.4 The office works with builders and homeowners on new homes, remodeling, repairs and mobile-home placement, and coordinates certain approvals with the county planning committee.4

Before filing anything, give the office the parcel identification, proposed use, building type and a basic site layout.4 Ask which zoning district covers the parcel, whether site-plan or appeal review applies, which permit forms are current, and how inspections are scheduled.711 Haywood County's published zoning process makes the Planning Director or designee responsible for deciding whether an application is complete.11

Does Haywood County, Tennessee have zoning?

Yes. Haywood County has an adopted zoning resolution, and its official zoning map is kept at the Courthouse.27 Exact boundary disputes go to the Board of Zoning Appeals, so a listing description or tax classification is not a substitute for confirming the zoning district.7 The resolution also caps regulated buildings at 35 feet or three stories, whichever is less, unless a specific district rule or exception applies.12

Zoning matters even on agricultural land. Tennessee's county agricultural exemption applies only when a structure is on land devoted to agricultural uses and is incidental to the agricultural enterprise, with stated exclusions near certain highways, airports, parks and within the one-hundred-year floodplain.13 Ask County Code Enforcement how the parcel, structure and proposed activity fit those conditions before relying on the exemption.4

How do septic permits work in Haywood County?

Tennessee requires a Septic System Construction Permit before a subsurface system is installed or a faulty system is repaired, and Haywood County is served for septic inquiries by the TDEC Jackson Environmental Field Office.145 The permit review includes a site evaluation and may require a site plan or soils map; a complete application can take up to 45 days to process.3 After installation, the installer must contact the local Environmental Scientist for a final inspection before covering the system, and approval leads to a Certificate of Completion.8

Only 14.6% of county soils are rated without severe limits for a conventional septic drain field.15 That makes early soils work especially valuable: call the septic inquiry line at 731-441-5593 before fixing the house location or treating a seller's bedroom estimate as buildable capacity.5

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Haywood County?

Haywood County's reviewed rules do not provide a general yes-or-no answer for living in an RV on a private parcel or occupying a tiny home. The verified travel-trailer provision is narrower: it covers temporary parks for a transient construction labor force and imposes district and site standards, so it should not be treated as permission for a single RV residence.9

Tiny homes still face the county's building-permit and zoning framework, but a general minimum dwelling size and a countywide tiny-home occupancy rule could not be confirmed.12 Ask County Code Enforcement about the proposed structure's classification, foundation, utilities, zoning use and occupancy before purchase.4 Manufactured homes are expressly allowed in the R-MH district subject to the resolution's manufactured-home and park provisions, but that district-specific rule does not make every parcel eligible.16

Building a home in Haywood County: what are the steps?

  1. Confirm the parcel's zoning district and whether the proposed home needs site-plan or appeal review with Haywood County Code Enforcement.711
  2. Ask County Code Enforcement for the current building application, required plans, inspection sequence and county fee schedule.4
  3. Apply for the TDEC septic construction permit early enough for site evaluation and review, which can take up to 45 days after a complete application arrives.3
  4. If the driveway enters a state highway right-of-way, obtain the required TDOT highway-entrance permit before construction or a change in use.17
  5. Build to the county's adopted code and arrange the required building reviews with the county office.64
  6. Have the septic system inspected before it is covered and obtain the TDEC Certificate of Completion after approval.8

What should you check before buying land in Haywood County?

Start with written confirmation of the zoning district, allowed dwelling type and any site-plan or appeal requirement.711 Then test the proposed septic area rather than assuming acreage alone solves wastewater: only 14.6% of county soils are rated without severe limits for a conventional drain field.15 Confirm whether a sanitary sewer is available, because a qualifying Tennessee utility may require an existing building on an abutting parcel to connect.18

Check legal road access and determine whether a state-highway entrance permit applies.17 Ask County Code Enforcement about floodplain review, setbacks, accessory dwellings, wells and any unresolved occupancy question for an RV or tiny home.4 For carrying-cost context, Haywood County's effective property-tax rate is about 0.7%, and the median annual property-tax bill is $854.1920

Watch-outs

  • Do not assume a travel-trailer-park provision authorizes full-time RV living on an individual parcel; ask County Code Enforcement for a parcel-specific occupancy answer.94
  • Do not cover a new septic system before the local Environmental Scientist performs the required final inspection.8
  • A Tennessee owner-builder exemption is limited to an owner's individual residence, allows one permit every two years, and does not apply to a home intended for sale, lease or rent.10

Sources

  1. Haywood County Code Enforcement & Building Inspector (2026 county census)
  2. Haywood County Zoning Resolution (2026 county census)
  3. SSDS FAQs, quoted and re-checked
  4. Haywood County Code Enforcement & Building Inspector (haywoodtn.gov)
  5. TDEC Jackson Environmental Field Office (tn.gov)
  6. Haywood County Code Enforcement & Building Inspector, quoted and re-checked
  7. Haywood County Zoning Resolution, quoted and re-checked
  8. SSDS FAQs, quoted and re-checked
  9. Haywood County Zoning Resolution, quoted and re-checked
  10. Can I build my own home without a license? (Tennessee statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  11. Haywood County Zoning Resolution, quoted and re-checked
  12. Haywood County Zoning Resolution, quoted and re-checked
  13. Exemption from County Zoning Regulation for Buildings on Land Used for Agriculture, Opinion No. 22-07 (Tennessee statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  14. Septic System Construction Permit (Tennessee statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  15. Share of soils without severe limits for a conventional septic drain field (USDA SSURGO): Bolthole Index county data
  16. Haywood County Zoning Resolution, quoted and re-checked
  17. Highway Entrance Permits (Tennessee statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  18. Utility Customers Frequently Asked Questions (Tennessee statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  19. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  20. 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

Haywood County in Tennessee

67
County map
Haywood County highlighted among the Tennessee counties · colored by Index score

How Haywood County scores

Seclusion44100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency70100% ev.
Admin Boringness46100% ev.
Durability53100% ev.
Property Autonomy71100% ev.
Carry Cost88100% 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 →

$176kTypical home
0.7%Property tax
$3,625Land / acre
54.4"Annual rain
6.1% of yrsSevere drought
17.5 / yr (+15.6)Mid-century 100°F days
16.1 daysMid-century dry spell
2.45" (+8.2%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.52×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
$1,833Home insurance / yr
-0.1% / yrInsurance growth
1.52%Nonrenewal rate
county median (2+ published ZIPs)Insurance basis
30,308People within 30 min
2,445,861People within 2 hr
40,243Radius comparison (15 mi)
32.5People / sq mi
4%Federal land
97.3%Land at 15% slope or less
14.6%Septic soil without severe limits
49,732 acWorkable land screen
35.1%Wooded land
44 tonsBiomass / forest ac
60.5°FAvg temp

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Answers from the rulebook for Haywood County

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

Haywood County rules

  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    Haywood County building-code administration.

    • The county page states the codes are good for seven years.
    • The page states adoption effective June 1, 2021.
    “The county adopted the 2018 International Building Codes on June 1, 2021 and these sets of codes are good for seven years.”
  • Zoning districtsPublished

    Zoning districts established by the Haywood County Zoning Resolution.

    • The official zoning map is on file at the Courthouse.
    • Exact boundary questions are determined by the Board of Zoning Appeals.
    “For the purpose of this Resolution, Haywood County, Tennessee, is hereby divided into seven (7) districts, designated as follows:”
  • Building heightSpecified

    Buildings regulated by the Haywood County zoning resolution.

    • The maximum applies to all buildings unless a district-specific or exception provision applies.
    • Freestanding poles, spires, towers, antennas, and similar non-human-occupancy structures may exceed the height provisions if the stated code and property-line-distance conditions are met.

    maximum building height: <= 35 feet (or three stories, whichever is less)

    “THE MAXIMUM ALLOWED HEIGHT FOR ALL BUILDINGS IS THIRTY-FIVE (35) FEET OR THREE (3) STORIES, WHICHEVER IS LESS.”
  • Living in an RVLimited

    Temporary travel-trailer parks accommodating a transient labor force in the county zoning districts addressed by the resolution.

    • No travel-trailer park may be located within an Urban Growth Boundary or Planned Growth Area, except the specified Planned Growth Area owned by the State of Tennessee under control of the Megasite Authority.
    • Maximum density is 7.6 units per acre.
    • Minimum lot size is 3 acres.
    • Minimum lot width is 250 feet.

    maximum density: <= 7.6 units per acre · minimum lot size: >= 3 acres · minimum lot width: >= 250 feet

    “The intend of these regulations is to allow the temporary locating of travel trailers accommodating a transient labor force needed for construction locations in Haywood County.”
  • Manufactured homesAllowed (with conditions)

    Mobile homes and manufactured residential dwellings in R-MH Residential-Mobile Home districts.

    • The use is subject to Chapter III, Section 3.13 of the zoning resolution and applicable mobile-home-park provisions.
    • The R-MH district is a designated zoning district.
    “mobile homes and manufactured residential dwellings as defined in Chapter II and subject to the provisions of Chapter III, Section 3.13 of this Resolution;”
  • Permit processPartial

    Zoning application completeness and site-plan review under the county zoning resolution.

    • The Planning Director or designee determines whether an application is complete.
    • Some site plans require approval before issuance of a building permit or certificate of occupancy.
    • Fees and complete building-permit procedures were not established.
    “The following procedures and standards are established for those sections and Chapters of this Resolution which require the submission and approval of a site plan prior to the issuance of a building permit or certificate of occupancy.”
  • County-wide zoningPresent

    Haywood County has an adopted Zoning Resolution (originally 1993, updated 2024) governing land use in the county.

    Haywood County Zoning Resolution ↗Scouted from the county site, not yet independently re-checked

  • Who permits septicTennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC)

    Subsurface sewage disposal (septic) systems statewide, including Haywood County, are permitted by TDEC's Division of Water Resources.

    TDEC - Subsurface Sewage Disposal Systems (SSDS) ↗Scouted from the county site, not yet independently re-checked

Tennessee rules that apply here

  • Building permitLimited

    State residential building permits for one- and two-family dwellings and townhouses in Tennessee jurisdictions where the State Fire Marshal's Office administers the residential building permit program.

    • The state permit is required only in some areas because other jurisdictions may enforce local residential building codes.
    • A county legislative body may remove unincorporated areas from the state program or a city legislative body may remove the city by a two-thirds vote.
    • The state permit does not replace grading or fill approval, floodplain compliance, septic or sewer permits, electrical permits, or zoning approval.
    • Local governments remain responsible for locally adopted codes and other requirements.
    “Why is the state residential building permit only required in some areas of the state?”
  • 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).”
  • 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”
  • 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
    • Required — Construction, modification, or repair of a septic system in Haywood County.
      “A septic system permit is required for the construction, modification or repair of a septic system.”
  • Septic inspectionRequired

    Final inspection of septic-system installation before the system is covered.

    • The installer contacts the local Environmental Scientist.
    • If approved, TDEC 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”
  • 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.

  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size in Haywood County.
  • Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy in Haywood County.
  • Accessory dwellings — Accessory dwelling units in Haywood County.
  • Off-grid sanitation — Off-grid sanitation in Haywood County.
  • Well permit — Water-well permitting in Haywood County.
2 more unanswered
  • Subdividing land
  • 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 Haywood County, Tennessee

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

Haywood County scores 67/100 on the Bolthole Index, a strong county profile. Its strengths: manageable long-term carry cost and a stronger property-autonomy legal backdrop.

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

Haywood County generally requires a residential building permit, and it enforces county zoning. Onsite septic is permitted by Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC). 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 Haywood County, Tennessee?

Land in Haywood County runs about $3,625 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in Haywood County?

Haywood County gets about 54.4" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 6.1% of years.

How remote is Haywood County?

A representative private-land location has about 30,308 people within a 30-minute drive and 2,445,861 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 Haywood County means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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How Haywood compares in Tennessee

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