Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Ripley, Tennessee

Ripley’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Erection of any building on any lot inside Ripley city

  • Permit is obtained from the recorder-treasurer.
  • Applies to pre-built, pre-fab and pre-constructed houses.
  • No building may be built unless sanitary sewage disposal facilities are provided.

  “a building permit shall be obtained from the recorder-treasurer of the city of ripley prior to the erection of any building on any lot. this chapter also applies to pre-built homes, pre-fab houses, and pre-constructed houses.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  Buildings and structures inside Ripley city

  • International Building Code 2018 edition including appendix B, with local modifications in § 12-102 (e.g., residential structures framed on 16-inch centers).
  • Title 12 also lists plumbing, electrical, fuel gas, residential, energy, mechanical, property maintenance and swimming pool codes; only chapter 1 was read.

  adopted edition: IBC 2018 (local modifications in § 12-102)

  “being marked and designated as the international building code,2 2018 edition including appendix b, as published by the international code council, be and is hereby adopted as the building code of the city of ripley, tennessee”

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Ripley city, Lauderdale County TN

  • The zoning ordinance (Ord. #166, Dec. 4, 1962, and amendments) is published as separate documents on record with the city recorder; it was not reviewed.

  “land use within the city of ripley shall be governed by the "zoning ordinance of ripley, tennessee," and any amendments thereto.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Mobile homes and trailers on commercially zoned lots inside Ripley city

  • Ban applies only to lots zoned commercial, unless otherwise provided in the code.
  • Temporary construction trailers during permitted construction are excepted (§ 14-402); mobile homes on commercial property prior to May 1991 addressed in § 14-403.
  • Residential-district rules are in the separate zoning ordinance, not reviewed.

  “it shall be unlawful for any person, business, firm, or corporation to place any mobile homes or trailers for any use on any lot or parcel of land zoned for commercial use in the city of ripley unless otherwise provided within the code.”

• Who permits septicMixed (with conditions)

  Septic tank systems on lots inside Ripley city where no accessible sewer exists

  • The city's code enforcement officer approves the system and its design specifications; installation is under the general supervision of the department of health.
  • Applies only where an accessible sewer does not exist.

  “an accessible sewer does not exist, the wastes from such facilities shall be discharged into a septic tank system approved by the code enforcement officer or his duly appointed representative. the design, layout, and construction of such systems shall be in accordance with specifications approved by the code enforcement officer and the installation shall be under the general supervision of the department of health.”

• Mandatory utility hookupConditional

  Premises inside Ripley city with accessible sewer and pressurized water

  • Connection is required wherever an accessible sewer exists and water under pressure is available.
  • On premises accessible to the sewer no other method of sewage disposal may be used.
  • Sewer connection not required if not technically feasible as determined by Ripley gas, water and wastewater department; sewer must abut the property or access easement.

  “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 the sewer”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builders inside Ripley city
• Inspections — Inspection of construction inside Ripley city
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of new buildings inside Ripley city
• Zoning districts — Zoning districts inside Ripley city
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Ripley 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.