Bolthole Index

Henderson County, Tennessee

Building permits, zoning and land rules in Lexington, Tennessee

Lexington, Tennessee, in Henderson County, requires a city building permit before covered excavation, construction, moving or alteration begins.1 The city enforces zoning and its adopted building codes, while TDEC handles septic permits where public sewer is not used.234

At a glance

Building permit
Required before covered excavation, construction, moving or alteration1
Zoning
City zoning applies, with standards that vary by district56
Septic
TDEC permits and inspects systems where public sewer is not used47
RV living
General private-land occupancy is unconfirmed; flood-hazard sites have a specific city limit8
Tiny homes
No specific occupancy rule confirmed; zoning and building-code review still apply59
Owner-builder
No city-specific exemption confirmed; ask Planning & Codes before filing10
Certificate of occupancy
Required before using covered new or altered land or buildings11

Who to call

Building permits

City of Lexington Building and Planning Department

City building permits, code enforcement, zoning, floodplain rules, site plans and subdivision regulations

(731) 968-7091

33 1st Street, Lexington, TN 38351

Septic permits

TDEC Jackson Environmental Field Office

Septic-related inquiries for Henderson County, including Lexington properties where onsite sewage disposal is available

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 October 9, 2026.

Off-grid gear

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

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Do you need a building permit in Lexington, Tennessee?

Yes. Inside Lexington city limits, a city building permit is required before excavation for construction, construction of a building or accessory structure, or the moving or alteration of a building begins.12 The application must include a dimensional sketch or scale plan and the existing and intended uses, and the permit becomes void after six months unless substantial progress has been made.12

Lexington follows the 2024 International Building, Residential, Mechanical, Plumbing, Fuel Gas and Fire Codes.3 New construction also goes through city inspections, which must be coordinated with 24-hour notice.13 The city requires a certificate of occupancy before covered new or altered land or buildings may be used.11

Who issues building permits in Lexington, TN?

The City of Lexington Building and Planning Department enforces the building, zoning, flood, sign, site-plan and subdivision rules inside Lexington.14 The Building Inspector issues the city building permit when the proposed work conforms to the zoning ordinance and other city ordinances.1

Reach Planning & Codes at (731) 968-7091 or visit 33 1st Street, Lexington, TN 38351.15 The city publishes both a building-permit application and a new-construction process.16 Lexington's published process calls for a site plan to the City Planner, engineer drawings and plans in digital form plus one hard copy, a pre-construction meeting, and coordinated inspections.17 City building-permit fees were not confirmed in the available official material, so ask Planning & Codes for the current fee before submitting.

Does Lexington have zoning, and what does it mean for a home?

Lexington has municipal zoning inside city limits, and the Official Zoning Map establishes the district that controls a parcel.18 The ordinance includes residential, business, industrial, flood-hazard and sign districts, so a land listing's proposed use must be checked against its mapped district.6

In the R-1 Low Density Residential District, a dwelling lot requires at least 10,000 square feet, and the dwelling setbacks are 30 feet in front, 30 feet in the rear and 15 feet on each side for a one- or two-story home.1920 Buildings may cover no more than 35% of an R-1 lot for dwellings and accessory uses.21 In R-2, the first dwelling unit requires 7,500 square feet, plus 2,500 square feet for each additional unit.22

How do septic permits and sewer work inside Lexington?

TDEC handles septic approval for a Lexington property where public sewer is not used, and a septic-system permit is required for construction, modification or repair.423 Obtain the septic permit before dirt work or construction of the building pad begins.24 After installation, the installer contacts the local Environmental Scientist for a final inspection before the system is covered; an approved system receives a Certificate of Completion.7

For Henderson County septic questions, call the TDEC Jackson Environmental Field Office at 731-441-5593.25 Lexington generally does not allow septic tanks where sewer is available, although the municipal code contains an exception for certain older platted lots that obtain TDEC approval.26 New subdivision development inside city limits must provide sanitary sewer service to each lot and connect it to the public system.27

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Lexington?

Lexington's general rule for living in an RV on private land could not be confirmed, so ask Planning & Codes about the parcel, zoning district and proposed duration before occupying one. The city does have a specific flood-hazard rule: an RV on an identified flood-hazard site must be present for fewer than 180 consecutive days, be fully licensed and ready for highway use, or satisfy the new-construction anchoring and elevation requirements for a longer placement.8

A separate tiny-home occupancy rule and a numeric minimum dwelling floor area could not be confirmed. Any tiny-home proposal still must fit Lexington's mapped zoning district and adopted building codes.528 Single-unit mobile homes are specifically allowed on individual lots in R-4 subject to Planning Commission-approved screening or fencing and other setup conditions.29

Building a home in Lexington: what are the steps?

  1. Ask Planning & Codes to confirm the parcel's zoning district, allowed use, lot size and setbacks.5
  2. Confirm whether public sewer is available; if onsite sewage is possible, obtain the TDEC septic permit before dirt work or building-pad construction.2624
  3. Submit the site plan, then provide the required engineer drawings and plans in digital form plus one hard copy.17
  4. Obtain the city building permit before covered excavation, construction, moving or alteration begins.1
  5. Coordinate city inspections with 24-hour notice, and arrange the septic inspection before covering an onsite system.307
  6. Complete the final city inspection and obtain the certificate of occupancy before using the completed home.11

What should you check before buying land in Lexington?

Verify the city-limit status, zoning district, allowed use, lot area, setbacks and legal street access before treating a Lexington parcel as buildable.531 A building lot generally needs access from a qualifying public street; a permanent access easement must be at least 50 feet wide and generally cannot serve more than one lot or tract.32

Check flood maps early because Lexington requires a development permit before development activity begins in designated flood-hazard areas.33 For county-level site context, 0% of Henderson County soils are rated without severe limitations for a conventional septic drain field, making parcel-level septic evaluation especially important where sewer cannot be used.34 Henderson County's effective property-tax rate is about 0.5%, and the median annual property-tax bill is $732.3536

Watch-outs

  • A Lexington building permit becomes void after six months unless substantial progress has been made.12
  • Do not assume an RV can be occupied on a private lot; the general city rule was not confirmed, and identified flood-hazard sites have a specific 180-day condition.8
  • Septic tanks generally cannot be used where Lexington sewer is available, subject to a limited exception for certain older platted lots with TDEC approval.26
  • Development in a mapped Lexington flood-hazard area requires a city development permit before work begins.37

Sources

  1. Building Inspector / Planning & Codes (Lexington), quoted and re-checked
  2. Planning & Codes (Lexington), quoted and re-checked
  3. Planning & Codes (Lexington), quoted and re-checked
  4. mtas.tennessee.edu (Lexington), quoted and re-checked
  5. Zoning Ordinance, Lexington, Tennessee (Lexington), quoted and re-checked
  6. Zoning Ordinance, Lexington, Tennessee (Lexington), quoted and re-checked
  7. tn.gov (Lexington), quoted and re-checked
  8. Zoning Ordinance, Lexington, Tennessee (Lexington), quoted and re-checked
  9. Lexington, TN Building and Planning Department (Lexington), quoted and re-checked
  10. Can I build my own home without a license? (Tennessee statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  11. Building Inspector / Planning & Codes (Lexington), quoted and re-checked
  12. Zoning Ordinance, Lexington, Tennessee (Lexington), quoted and re-checked
  13. Coordinated Flow Chart for New Construction (Lexington), quoted and re-checked
  14. Planning & Codes (Lexington), quoted and re-checked
  15. City of Lexington Building and Planning Department (lexingtontn.gov)
  16. Planning & Codes (Lexington), quoted and re-checked
  17. Coordinated Flow Chart for New Construction (Lexington), quoted and re-checked
  18. Zoning Ordinance, Lexington, Tennessee (Lexington), quoted and re-checked
  19. Zoning Ordinance, Lexington, Tennessee (Lexington), quoted and re-checked
  20. Zoning Ordinance, Lexington, Tennessee (Lexington), quoted and re-checked
  21. Zoning Ordinance, Lexington, Tennessee (Lexington), quoted and re-checked
  22. lexingtontn.gov (Lexington), quoted and re-checked
  23. Online Application for Septic Related Services (Lexington), quoted and re-checked
  24. Subsurface Sewage Disposal System Frequently Asked Questions (Lexington), quoted and re-checked
  25. TDEC Jackson Environmental Field Office (tn.gov)
  26. Lexington Municipal Code (Lexington), quoted and re-checked
  27. Municipal-Regional Subdivision Regulations (Lexington), quoted and re-checked
  28. Planning & Codes — Current building code (Lexington), quoted and re-checked
  29. lexingtontn.gov (Lexington), quoted and re-checked
  30. Coordinated Flow Chart for New Construction (Lexington), quoted and re-checked
  31. Municipal-Regional Subdivision Regulations (Lexington), quoted and re-checked
  32. Municipal-Regional Subdivision Regulations (Lexington), quoted and re-checked
  33. Provisions Governing Flood Hazard Districts (Lexington), quoted and re-checked
  34. 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
  35. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  36. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data
  37. Provisions Governing Flood Hazard Districts (Lexington), quoted and re-checked

Written October 9, 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 Lexington

Lexington’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Excavation or construction inside Lexington city limits subject to the zoning ordinance.

    • The application must include a dimensional sketch or scale plan and existing and intended uses.
    • A permit becomes void six months after issuance unless substantial progress has been made.
    • A conforming application is issued a permit; refusal must state the cause in writing.

    permit validity period: 6 months (unless substantial progress has been made)

    “It shall be unlawful to commence the excavation for the construction of any building, including accessory buildings, accessory structures, or accessory uses, or to commence the moving or alteration of any building, including accessory building or structure, until the Building inspector has issued a building permit for such work.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Required — Excavation for construction of any building, including accessory buildings, accessory structures, or accessory uses, and moving or alteration of any building inside Lexington city limits.
      “until the Building inspector has issued a building permit for such work.”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    Building construction inside Lexington city limits.

    • The city page states that the current building code followed includes the 2024 International Building, Residential, Mechanical, Plumbing, Fuel Gas, and Fire Codes.
    “Current building code is followed: 2024 International Building Code 2024 International Residential Code 2024 International Mechanical Code 2024 International Plumbing Code 2024 International Fuel Gas Code 2024 International Fire Code”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Adopted — Building construction inside Lexington city limits.
      “Current building code is followed: 2024 International Building Code 2024 International Residential Code”
    • Adopted — Building construction inside Lexington city limits.
      “Current building code is followed: 2024 International Building Code 2024 International Residential Code 2024 International Mechanical Code 2024 International Plumbing Code 2024 International Fuel Gas Code 2024 International Fire Code”
  • InspectionsRequired

    New construction inside Lexington city limits.

    • Inspections must be coordinated with 24-hour notice.

    inspection notice: 24 hours

    “Begin Project Coordinate Inspections (24 hour notice)”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    Use or occupancy of land, buildings, or parts of buildings erected or altered in use or structure inside Lexington city limits.

    • The land, building, or part thereof may not be used until the Building Inspector issues a certificate of occupancy.
    • The certificate must state that the land, building, or part thereof and proposed use conform to the City Zoning Ordinance.
    • Within three days after notification that a building or premises is ready for occupancy or use, the Building Inspector must make a final inspection and issue the certificate if the property and proposed use conform; if refused, the refusal and cause must be stated in writing.
    • For an approved site plan, the applicant must secure a building permit or certificate of occupancy within six months, subject to the approved site-plan conditions and other applicable zoning provisions.
    • A site plan becomes void six months after issuance of the building permit or certificate of occupancy unless substantial progress has been made.

    final inspection and certificate action deadline: 3 days (after notification that a building or premises is ready for occupancy or use) · site-plan permit or certificate deadline: 6 months (after site-plan approval)

    “shall be used until the Building Inspector shall have issued a certificate of occupancy”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Required — New construction inside Lexington city limits.
      “Project Complete Certificate of Occupancy”
    • Required — Land, buildings, and parts of buildings erected or altered inside Lexington city limits.
      “No land or building or part thereof hereafter erected or altered in its use or structure shall be used until the Building Inspector shall have issued a certificate of occupancy stating that such land, building or part thereof and the proposed use thereof are found to be in conformity with the provisions of this Ordinance.”
  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside Lexington city limits.

    • The City Building and Planning Department enforces the city's Zoning Ordinance.
    “The Building and Planning Department is responsible for the enforcement of the Building Codes, Zoning Ordinance, Flood Ordinance, Sign Ordinance, Site Plan Ordinance, Subdivision Regulations and other associated codes.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Present (with conditions) — Land inside Lexington city limits.
      “This Ordinance shall be known and may be cited as the Zoning Ordinance of Lexington, Tennessee, and the map herein referred to which is identified by the title, "Official Zoning Map, Lexington, Tennessee" and all explanatory matters thereon and hereby adopted and made a part of this Ordinance.”
    • Present — Land inside Lexington city limits.
      “This Ordinance shall be known and may be cited as the Zoning Ordinance of Lexington, Tennessee”
  • Zoning districtsPublished

    Land inside Lexington city limits.

    • The ordinance lists fourteen districts and states that district boundaries are shown on the Official Zoning Map on file at City Hall.
    • Listed districts include R-1 Low Density Residential, R-2 Medium Density Residential, R-3 High Density Residential, R-4 High Density Mixed Structure Residential, business, industrial, flood-hazard, and sign districts.

    number of districts: 14 districts

    “Lexington, Tennessee, is hereby divided into fourteen (14) districts”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Published (with conditions) — Zoning districts inside Lexington city limits.
      “For the purpose of this Ordinance, Lexington, Tennessee, is hereby divided into fourteen (14) districts, designated as follows: R-1 Low Density Residential R-2 Medium Density Residential R-3 High Density Residential R-4 High Density Mixed Structure Residential”
    • Published — Land inside Lexington city limits.
      “For the purpose of this Ordinance, Lexington, Tennessee, is hereby divided into fourteen (14) districts, designated as follows: R-1 Low Density Residential R-2 Medium Density Residential R-3 High Density Residential R-4 High Density Mixed Structure Residential B-1 Neighborhood Business B-2 Intermediate Business B-3 Central Business B-P Planned Business H-M Hospital-Medical B-M Business-Industrial M-1 Light Industrial M-2 Heavy Industrial F-H (Flood Hazard) Districts Flood Fringe and Floodway Sign District”
  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    Dwelling units in the R-2 Medium Density Residential District.

    • The R-2 minimum is 7,500 square feet for the first dwelling unit plus 2,500 square feet for each additional dwelling unit.

    minimum lot area for first dwelling unit: >= 7500 square feet (plus 2,500 square feet for each additional dwelling unit)

    “Minimum required lot area. a. Dwelling units 7,500 sq. ft. for the first dwelling unit plus 2,500 sq. ft. for each additional dwelling unit.”
  • Living in an RVLimited

    Recreational vehicles placed on identified flood-hazard sites inside Lexington city limits.

    • The RV must either be on the site for fewer than 180 consecutive days, be fully licensed and ready for highway use, or, if on site longer than 180 consecutive days, meet all requirements for new construction including anchoring and elevation requirements.

    maximum temporary site duration: < 180 days (Longer occupancy requires compliance with new-construction anchoring and elevation requirements.)

    “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.”
  • Manufactured homesLimited

    Single-unit mobile homes on individual lots in the R-4 High Density Mixed Structure Residential District.

    • A planted screen or fence along all side and rear lot lines must receive Planning Commission approval.
    • Wheels must be removed upon setup.
    • The home must be placed on a permanent standard foundation acceptable to the Planning Commission.
    • The tongue must be removed or covered to the satisfaction of the Planning Commission.
    • All other regulations governing the location of such facilities also apply.
    “Mobile homes shall be allowed as follows: single unit mobile homes located on individual lots provided that each mobile home lot be provided at the unit owner's expense with either a planted screen or fence which meets the approval of the Planning Commission.”
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    Off-grid sanitation inside Lexington city limits where public sewer is available or unavailable.

    • Septic tanks may not be used where sewers are available, subject to municipal-code exceptions.
    • Certain older platted lots may use a TDEC-approved septic system instead of sewer.
    • A TDEC permit must be delivered to the Building Inspector to obtain a building permit in that exception.
    “Septic tanks shall not be used where sewers are available. The water system manager shall make any decision as to the availability of sewers.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

    New subdivision development inside Lexington city limits and property subject to the municipal sewer-use rules.

    • Subdivision developments inside the corporate limits must install sanitary sewers, provide service to each lot, and connect to the public system.
    • A municipal-code exception permits certain undeveloped lots in subdivisions recorded before July 1, 2015 to apply to TDEC for septic instead of sewer.
    • Where sewer is available, septic tanks generally may not be used.

    sewer-distance threshold for subdivision rule: <= 1000 feet (existing adequate public facilities)

    “For developments inside the Corporate Limits or within 1000 feet of existing adequate public facilities, the applicant shall install sanitary sewers in the subdivision and shall provide sanitary sewer facilities to each lot therein and shall connect the facilities to the public system.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Sewer (with conditions) — Subdivision development inside Lexington city limits, and developments within 1,000 feet of existing adequate public facilities.
      “For developments inside the Corporate Limits or within 1000 feet of existing adequate public facilities, the applicant shall install sanitary sewers in the subdivision”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision of land within Lexington city and its planning region.

    • A plat dividing land into two or more lots or tracts must be submitted to and approved by the Planning Commission before recording in Henderson County land records.
    • The regulations also impose public-street, building-permit, access, and easement conditions.

    minimum permanent easement width: >= 50 feet (An easement may not provide access to more than one lot or tract except as provided in Article VI, Section E.)

    “No plat of a subdivision of land into (2) or more lots or tracts located within the planning region of Lexington, shall be admitted to the land records of Henderson County or received or recorded by the County Register of Deeds until such plat shall have been submitted to and approved by the Planning Commission”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Regulated (with conditions) — Subdivision and development inside Lexington city limits.
      “The Building and Planning Department is responsible for the enforcement of the Building Codes, Zoning Ordinance, Flood Ordinance, Sign Ordinance, Site Plan Ordinance, Subdivision Regulations and other associated codes.”
    • Regulated (with conditions) — Subdivision development inside Lexington city limits.
      “The Building and Planning Department is responsible for the enforcement of the Building Codes, Zoning Ordinance, Flood Ordinance, Sign Ordinance, Site Plan Ordinance, Subdivision Regulations and other associated codes.”
  • Driveway accessRequired

    Building lots inside Lexington city and its planning region.

    • The access street must be accepted or opened as a public street, have legal public-street status, correspond to a street on an approved subdivision or street plat, or otherwise be located or accepted under the cited Tennessee statutes.
    • A permanent easement to a public way must be at least 50 feet wide and generally may not serve more than one lot or tract, subject to the condominium/private-improvement exception stated in the regulation.

    minimum permanent easement width: 50 ft (The regulation states an exception for condominium ownership of approved private improvements.)

    “such easement shall be at least fifty (50) feet in width”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Required — Lots and buildings inside Lexington city and its planning region.
      “No building permit shall be issued and no building shall be erected on any lot within the Planning Region of Lexington, unless the street giving access to the lot upon which said building is proposed to be placed shall have been accepted or opened as or shall have otherwise received the legal status of a public street”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    Development in flood-hazard areas inside the incorporated area of Lexington.

    • The ordinance applies to all areas within the incorporated area of Lexington.
    • A development permit is required before commencement of any development activities.
    • The FEMA FIS/FIRM panels listed in the ordinance are adopted by reference and state an effective date of April 16, 2008.
    • Where requirements conflict or overlap, the more stringent restriction prevails.

    FEMA FIS/FIRM effective date: 2008-04-16

    “This Ordinance shall apply to all areas within the incorporated area of Lexington, Tennessee. [...] A development permit shall be required in conformity with this Ordinance prior to the commencement of any development activities.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Required — Development in designated flood-hazard areas inside the incorporated area of Lexington.
      “A development permit shall be required in conformity with this Ordinance prior to the commencement of any development activities.”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    New construction inside Lexington city limits.

    • Submit site plan to the City Planner; the flow chart states a 72-hour turnaround.
    • If an appeal is required, submit to the Board of Zoning and Appeals, which meets the first Monday monthly.
    • Submit to the Planning Commission, which meets the second Monday monthly.
    • Submit engineer drawings and plans in digital and hard-copy form.
    • A pre-construction meeting occurs within two weeks of construction.
    • Inspections require 24-hour notice.
    • The current city webpage separately lists 2024 codes, while the flow chart itself notes 2018 International Building Codes and 2015 International Fire.

    site-plan turnaround: 72 hours · inspection notice: 24 hours

    “Submit Site Plan to City Planner (72 Hour turn around)”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Published (with conditions) — New construction inside Lexington city limits.
      “Submit Site Plan to City Planner (72 Hour turn around) [...] Submit Engineer Drawings & Plans (Digital Copy plus 1 Hard Copy) [...] Pre-Con Meeting (Within 2 weeks of Construction) [...] Coordinate Inspections (24 hour notice)”
    • Published (with conditions) — Building-permit and planning process inside Lexington city limits.
      “Building Permit Application [...] New Construction Process”

Rules another office applies inside Lexington

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

  • SetbacksSpecified

    R-1 Low Density Residential District inside Lexington city limits.

    • Setbacks are controlled by the R-1 district schedule and related ordinance provisions.
    “Minimum required front yard. a. Dwellings 30 feet [...] Minimum required rear yard. a. Dwellings 30 feet [...] Minimum required side yard on each side of lot. a. Dwellings 1 & 2 Story 3 Story 15 feet 20 feet”
  • Lot coverageSpecified

    R-1 Low Density Residential District inside Lexington city limits.

    • The ordinance states that the principal building must comply with district area, yard, coverage, and height requirements.

    maximum lot coverage by all buildings: 35 percent (dwellings and accessories)

    “Maximum lot coverage by all buildings. a. Dwellings and accessories 35% b. Churches 25% c. Other Uses 30% or less as required by the Board of Zoning Appeals.”
  • Building heightSpecified

    R-1 Low Density Residential District inside Lexington city limits.

    • The height rule has a special limitation for lots less than fifty feet wide at the building line.
    • Certain structures are excepted if they meet the stated property-line-distance condition.

    maximum building height: <= 35 feet (three stories; lots less than 50 feet wide at building line are limited to 1.5 stories or 25 feet)

    “No building shall exceed three (3) stories or thirty-five (35) feet in height. On a lot less than fifty(50) feet in width at the building line no building shall exceed one and one-half (1 1/2) stories or twenty-five (25) feet in height.”
  • Who permits septicState (with conditions)

    Septic systems serving property inside Lexington city limits where public sewer is not used.

    • TDEC conducts the site evaluation, issues the permit, and coordinates final inspection and Certificate of Completion.
    • The City code allows a TDEC septic permit in a specified exception for certain existing platted subdivisions.
    “the property owner at their own expense may then apply for approval of a septic tank permit through TDEC in lieu of sewer.”
  • Septic permitRequired

    Construction, repair, or modification of septic systems serving property inside Lexington city limits.

    • Apply before starting dirt work or construction of the building pad.
    • Alternative systems require an alternative septic system permit.
    “A septic system permit is required for the construction, modification or repair of a septic system.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Required — Construction, modification, repair, or installation of a septic system serving property inside Lexington city limits where public sewer is not required or available.
      “A Conventional Septic System Permit is required for the installation of a conventional septic system”
  • Septic inspectionRequired

    Septic installations serving property inside Lexington city limits.

    • Final inspection occurs before the system is covered.
    • 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.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder construction inside Lexington city limits.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Lexington city limits.
  • Camping on your land — Temporary camping on land inside Lexington city limits.
  • Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Lexington city limits.
  • Accessory dwellings — Accessory dwelling units inside Lexington city limits.
4 more unanswered
  • Well permit
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Short-term rentals
  • Permit fees

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 Lexington publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Henderson County’s page lists the county offices to call.

← All of Henderson County: county rules, score and offices