Zoning, building permits and septic rules in McEwen, Tennessee

McEwen’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Excavation, construction, movement, alteration, repair, change of use, or land filling inside McEwen city limits.

  • A permit is issued by the Building Inspector/Zoning Administrator.
  • An application must be written, on the city form, and accompanied by duplicate scaled plans or plats showing lot dimensions, structures, uses, elevation, and relevant parking/loading information.
  • If work begins without a permit, the fee is double the original cost.
  • A permit is invalid if work does not begin within six months or is suspended or discontinued for one year.
  • A Board of Zoning Appeals order may authorize an exception, special exception, or variance.

  permit validity if work not commenced: 6 months · permit invalidity after work suspension or discontinuance: 1 years

  “It shall be unlawful to commence the excavation for or the construction of any building or other structure, including accessory structures, to commence the moving, alteration, or repair of any structure, or to change the use of a building or structure, or to commence the filling of land without a permit therefore, issued by the Building Inspector/Zoning Administrator.”

• InspectionsRequired

  Buildings or premises requiring a certificate of occupancy under McEwen's zoning ordinance.

  • After notification that a building or premises is ready for occupancy or use, the Building Inspector/Zoning Administrator must make a final inspection within three days.
  • The ordinance also directs the enforcement officer to conduct inspections required by the ordinance and other inspections necessary for compliance.

  final-inspection timing after notice of readiness: <= 3 days

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

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  A land, building, structure, or part thereof inside McEwen that is erected, moved, or altered in use.

  • The Building Inspector/Zoning Administrator must find the item conforms to the ordinance before issuing the certificate.
  • Following notice of readiness, final inspection is required within three days.

  “No land or building or other structure or part thereof hereafter erected, moved, or altered in its use shall be used until the Building Inspector/Zoning Administrator shall have issued a Certificate of Occupancy stating that such land, structure, or part thereof is found to be in conformity with the provisions of this ordinance.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside McEwen city limits.

  • The ordinance incorporates the official zoning map as part of the ordinance.

  “This Ordinance shall be known as the Zoning Ordinance for the City of McEwen, Tennessee. The zoning map shall be referred to as the official zoning map of McEwen, Tennessee and all explanatory matter thereon is hereby adopted and made a part of this ordinance.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts inside McEwen city limits.

  • District locations and boundaries are shown on the Official Zoning Map of McEwen.
  • Annexed territory is initially R-1 until Planning Commission studies are completed and the map is amended.

  number of zoning districts: 6

  “All territory which may hereafter be annexed to the City of McEwen shall be zoned "Low-Density Residential, R-1." Such annexed territory shall retain such zoning classification until such time as the necessary studies are made by the Planning Commission and the Official Zoning Map is amended in the manner provided. 5.050. Specific district regulations. The following regulations shall apply in the six (6) zoning districts established in Section 5.010 of this ordinance.”

• Living in an RVTemporary only (with conditions)

  A mobile home or travel trailer temporarily occupied on private residential property inside McEwen city limits.

  • A permit from the building inspector is required first.
  • The permit is for two weeks and may be renewed for only two additional weeks in a 90-day period.
  • A mobile home or travel trailer may not be permitted for more than four consecutive weeks or more than four weeks in any 90-day period.
  • Travel trailer parks are special exceptions in the C-1 Commercial Service District; courts require a city license.

  initial temporary occupancy period: 2 weeks · maximum occupancy in any 90-day period: <= 4 weeks

  “Out-of-town visitors of McEwen residents and similar parties desiring to locate a mobile home or travel trailer, for temporary occupancy during visitation, on private residential property within the city, must first obtain a permit therefor from the building inspector. Such permit shall be issued for a temporary occupancy period of two (2) weeks and may be renewed for only two (2) additional weeks in any ninety (90) day period, it being the intent that no mobile home or travel trailer shall be permitted for more than four (4) consecutive weeks or for more than four (4) weeks in any ninety (90) day period.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  All subdivisions located within McEwen city limits.

  • The subdivider must submit the required plat, obtain Planning Commission approval, and file the approved plat with the county register.
  • Before a proposed subdivision is sold or a structure permit is granted, the owner or authorized agent must secure Planning Commission approval.
  • The Planning Commission must approve or disapprove a plat within 30 days after submission.

  plat approval or disapproval period: <= 30 days

  “These subdivision regulations shall apply to all subdivisions, as herein defined, located within the McEwen city limits. No land shall be subdivided within the jurisdictional area until the subdivider submits a plat as required by these regulations, obtains planning commission approval of the plat, and files the approved plat with the county register.”

• Driveway accessLimited

  Vehicle access points to streets inside McEwen city limits.

  • Residential, retail, and commercial-service access points cannot exceed 30 feet; industrial access points cannot exceed 45 feet.
  • Access points must provide proper drainage and an 18-inch minimum culvert in the ditch line.
  • No curb or city-street right-of-way may be cut or altered without written authorization.

  maximum residential access-point width: <= 30 feet · minimum ditch-line culvert: >= 18 inches

  “A point of access for vehicles onto a street shall not exceed thirty (30) feet in width for all residential, retail, and commercial service land uses. All points of access shall be so constructed as to provide for proper drainage of property and public street. A minimum of an eighteen (18) inch culvert shall be provided in the ditch line. For industrial land uses a point of access for vehicles onto a street shall not exceed forty-five (45) feet in width.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Municipal building permits inside McEwen city limits.

  • The Board of Mayor and Aldermen establishes and may amend the schedule.
  • The schedule must be posted at the Building Inspector/Zoning Administrator office and City Hall.
  • No action is taken on an application until the applicable fee is fully paid.

  “The McEwen Board of Mayor and Aldermen shall establish a schedule of fees and a collection procedure for Building Permits. The schedule of fees shall be posted in the office of the Building Inspector/Zoning Administrator and City Hall.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Municipal building-permit applications inside McEwen city limits.

  • Written application is made to the Building Inspector/Zoning Administrator on city-provided forms.
  • Applications require duplicate scaled plans or plats with prescribed site and building information.
  • Fees must be fully paid before action; denied applications must state the cause in writing.

  “Application for a Building Permit shall be made in writing to the Building Inspector/Zoning Administrator on forms provided for that purpose. All applications for Building Permits shall be accompanied by a plan or a plat in duplicate, drawn to scale”

Rules another office applies inside McEwen

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

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  R-1 Low-Density Residential District inside McEwen.

  • Minimum area is 40,000 square feet without public sewer and 20,000 square feet with public sewer.
  • The dimensional requirements are subject to Article VII exceptions.

  minimum lot area without public sewer: >= 40000 square feet · minimum lot area with public sewer: >= 20000 square feet

  “E. Dimensional Regulations: All uses permitted in the R-1, Low-Density Residential District shall comply with the following requirements except as provided in Article VII. 1. Minimum Lot Size: Without Public Sewer (in sq. ft.) With Public Sewer (in sq. ft.) Area 40,000 20,000”

• SetbacksSpecified

  R-1 Low-Density Residential District inside McEwen.

  • The dimensional requirements are subject to Article VII exceptions.

  front setback: >= 40 feet · side setback: >= 15 feet · rear setback: >= 25 feet

  “2. Minimum Yard Requirements: Front Setback 40 feet Side 15 feet Rear 25 feet”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  R-1 Low-Density Residential District inside McEwen.

  • Applies to all buildings, including accessory buildings.

  maximum lot coverage: <= 35 percent

  “3. Maximum Lot Coverage: On any lot or parcel of land, the area occupied by all buildings including accessory buildings may not exceed thirty-five (35) percent of the total area of such lot or parcel.”

• Building heightSpecified

  R-1 Low-Density Residential District inside McEwen.

  • Exception as provided in Article VII, § 7.050.

  maximum building height: <= 35 feet (Article VII, § 7.050)

  “4. Height Requirement: No building shall exceed thirty-five (35) feet in height, except as provided in Article VII, Section 7.050.”

• Manufactured homesProhibited

  Mobile homes and mobile-home parks in McEwen R-1 Low-Density Residential District.

  • The prohibition is specific to R-1; separately regulated mobile-home courts may operate only under the municipal court and licensing rules.

  “D. Uses Prohibited: Mobile Homes and mobile home parks; billboards and similar advertising structures; uses not specifically permitted; or uses not permitted upon approval as a special exception.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside McEwen city limits.
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside McEwen city limits.
• Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside McEwen city limits.
• Who permits septic — On-site sewage disposal inside McEwen city limits.
• Septic permit — On-site sewage disposal inside McEwen city limits.

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.