Bolthole Index

Lewis County, Tennessee

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

84Index Score / 100
#7 of 95 in Tennessee

Unincorporated Lewis County, Tennessee does not require a building permit for residential or commercial structures of any type or size1. Lewis County is also an opt-out jurisdiction for Tennessee's residential building-code program, although an owner or contractor may request the state inspection route2. Septic systems still require state permits and inspections through the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation34.

At a glance

Building permit
Not required for residential or commercial structures outside Hohenwald1
County zoning
No county zoning is reported outside Hohenwald; Hohenwald has separate city zoning56
Septic
TDEC requires the state construction permit and final inspection34
RV living
Long-term private-land RV occupancy could not be confirmed; ask the appropriate local office before relying on it5
Tiny home
A compliant foundation-built dwelling can qualify, but a ready-removable cannot be modified for housing78
Owner-builder
Available outside Hohenwald because no county building permit is required; state trade-licensing rules can still apply9
Minimum size and setbacks
No county minimum dwelling size or zoning setback applies outside Hohenwald1011
Septic soils
Only 6.8% of county soils lack severe limits for a conventional drain field12

Who to call

Building permits

City of Hohenwald Building & Codes Department

Building permits, inspections and zoning information inside Hohenwald city limits

(931)796-2231

[email protected]

118 W Linden Ave, Hohenwald, TN 38462

Septic permits

TDEC Columbia Environmental Field Office

TDEC field-office contact for Lewis County and Division of Water Resources questions, including septic-related services

(931) 380-3371

[email protected]

1421 Hampshire Pike, Suite 100, Columbia, TN 38401

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on September 28, 2026.

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

No county building permit is required for a residential or commercial structure of any type or size on land outside Hohenwald city limits1. Lewis County has opted out of Tennessee's residential building-code enforcement program for one- and two-family dwellings2. An owner or contractor may nevertheless choose the State Fire Marshal route for an inspection during new construction or an addition13. A qualifying home that passes that optional state review can receive a certificate of occupancy14. Inside Hohenwald, contact the City of Hohenwald Building & Codes Department and bring the required information to City Hall to obtain the city permit15.

Who is the Lewis County building department and how do you reach it?

Unincorporated Lewis County has no county building or codes staff, so there is no county building-permit counter for property outside Hohenwald516. For property inside Hohenwald, the City of Hohenwald Building & Codes Department is at 118 W Linden Ave, Hohenwald, TN 38462, and its office number is (931)796-223115. The city page provides its permit application, zoning materials, inspection checklists and instructions to bring the application information to City Hall15. For septic questions, Lewis County is served by the TDEC Columbia Environmental Field Office at 1421 Hampshire Pike, Suite 100, Columbia, TN 38401; call (931) 380-3371 and ask for Division of Water Resources septic assistance17.

Does Lewis County have zoning?

Unincorporated Lewis County is reported as having no county zoning, while Hohenwald maintains its own city zoning materials56. Outside Hohenwald, the reviewed county rules identify no county minimum dwelling size, minimum lot size, zoning setback, lot-coverage limit or building-height limit1018111920. Those findings do not cancel state septic, electrical, highway-access or floodplain requirements that may affect a particular site. Tennessee's agricultural protection is conditional: a structure must be on land devoted to agricultural use and incidental to the farm enterprise, and exclusions apply near specified public facilities and within the floodplain21.

How do septic permits work in Lewis County?

TDEC, rather than Lewis County, administers septic permitting, and a construction permit is required to install, modify or repair a subsurface sewage disposal system223. TDEC must inspect the installation before it is covered and issues a certificate of completion when the work is approved4. The Columbia Environmental Field Office serves Lewis County and directs Division of Water Resources callers to the appropriate program contact17. Site feasibility deserves attention before purchase because only 6.8% of county soils are rated without severe limitations for a conventional drain field12. When land is divided for future construction using septic, the state requires a subdivision evaluation, survey and soils map, except when every resulting tract is at least 5 acres23.

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

We could not confirm a rule that generally allows or prohibits long-term RV occupancy on private land in Lewis County, so ask the county about unincorporated land or the City of Hohenwald about a city parcel before moving in. A separate statewide rule prohibits modifying a ready-removable structure without a foundation, footings or comparable support for residential, recreational or emergency housing8. That ready-removable rule does not answer every RV-occupancy situation. A tiny home can instead qualify as a dwelling when it meets the state's construction conditions and is placed on the prescribed foundation or engineered piers7. A manufactured home follows another route: it needs a licensed installer and installation decal, while custom site-built additions require the applicable site-work permit24.

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

  1. Confirm whether the parcel is inside Hohenwald; city parcels go first to the City of Hohenwald Building & Codes Department15.
  1. For unincorporated land, document that Lewis County does not require the county building permit1.
  1. Have the proposed home and wastewater area evaluated early because only 6.8% of county soils lack severe conventional-drain-field limits12.
  1. Apply to TDEC for the septic construction permit, then arrange inspection before covering the system34.
  1. Decide whether to request the optional State Fire Marshal inspection and certificate-of-occupancy route1314.
  1. Obtain TDOT approval before constructing or changing a driveway on state highway right-of-way25.

What should you check before buying land in Lewis County?

Start with parcel jurisdiction because Hohenwald has city zoning and permitting while unincorporated Lewis County does not require the county building permit61. Make septic feasibility a purchase contingency: only 6.8% of county soils are rated without severe limitations for a conventional drain field12. The county is 83.7% wooded, and 43.9% of its land has a slope of 15% or less, so verify clearing needs, driveway grade and an actual buildable area on the parcel2627. A driveway on state highway right-of-way requires TDOT approval before construction or a change in use25. We could not confirm a Lewis County-specific floodplain development process or a general private-well permit rule; ask the relevant office about both before closing.

Watch-outs

  • Long-term RV occupancy on private land in Lewis County could not be confirmed; ask Lewis County for unincorporated land or the City of Hohenwald for land inside city limits before relying on RV living5.
  • Tennessee prohibits modifying a foundation-less ready-removable structure for housing, even though unincorporated Lewis County does not require a county building permit81.
  • Only 6.8% of Lewis County soils are rated without severe limitations for a conventional septic drain field, so verify the wastewater area before buying12.

Sources

  1. Zoning | Lewiscountytn, quoted and re-checked
  2. Residential Jurisdictions & Inspectors, quoted and re-checked
  3. Septic System Construction Permit, quoted and re-checked
  4. Subsurface Sewage Disposal System (SSDS) Frequently Asked Questions, quoted and re-checked
  5. Lewis County Government - Zoning (2026 county census)
  6. Building & Codes Department | City of Hohenwald, quoted and re-checked
  7. Public Guidance: Ready-Removables and Non-Traditional Homes, quoted and re-checked
  8. Public Guidance: Ready-Removables and Non-Traditional Homes, quoted and re-checked
  9. Tennessee law on county zoning and building authority
  10. County Information, quoted and re-checked
  11. County Information, quoted and re-checked
  12. Share of soils without severe limits for a conventional septic drain field (USDA SSURGO): Bolthole Index county data
  13. Tennessee Fire Marshal's Office Residential Permits Residential Jurisdictions & Inspectors, quoted and re-checked
  14. Tennessee Fire Marshal's Office Residential Permits Residential Jurisdictions & Inspectors, quoted and re-checked
  15. City of Hohenwald Building & Codes Department (hohenwald.com)
  16. Zoning, quoted and re-checked
  17. TDEC Columbia Environmental Field Office (tn.gov)
  18. County Information, quoted and re-checked
  19. County Information, quoted and re-checked
  20. County Information, quoted and re-checked
  21. Exemption from County Zoning Regulation for Buildings on Land Used for Agriculture, quoted and re-checked
  22. Septic System Construction Permit, quoted and re-checked
  23. Online Application for Septic Related Services, quoted and re-checked
  24. Residential Permit FAQs, quoted and re-checked
  25. Highway Entrance Permits (Tennessee statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  26. Wooded share of land: Bolthole Index county data
  27. Share of land at 15% slope or less: Bolthole Index county data

Written September 28, 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

Lewis County in Tennessee

84
County map
Lewis County highlighted among the Tennessee counties · colored by Index score

How Lewis County scores

Seclusion57100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency62100% ev.
Admin Boringness90100% ev.
Durability71100% ev.
Property Autonomy71100% ev.
Carry Cost87100% 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 →

$256kTypical home
0.5%Property tax
$3,635Land / acre
57.1"Annual rain
4.5% of yrsSevere drought
8.9 / yr (+8.2)Mid-century 100°F days
14.3 daysMid-century dry spell
2.41" (+6.8%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.55×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
$1,799Home insurance / yr
0.2% / yrInsurance growth
0.37%Nonrenewal rate
county median (2+ published ZIPs)Insurance basis
18,659People within 30 min
3,227,140People within 2 hr
30,477Radius comparison (15 mi)
46.3People / sq mi
1.8%Federal land
43.9%Land at 15% slope or less
6.8%Septic soil without severe limits
10,736 acWorkable land screen
83.7%Wooded land
49.9 tonsBiomass / forest ac
58.5°FAvg temp

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Answers from the rulebook for Lewis County

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

Lewis County rules

  • Building permitNot required

    Residential and commercial structures of any type or size outside the City of Hohenwald in Lewis County, Tennessee.

    • The rule applies outside Hohenwald city limits.
    • Within Hohenwald city limits, applicants should contact the City of Hohenwald for its requirements.
    • The county page separately states that Tennessee law requires proper septic systems and proper electric installation.
    “If you are planning to build outside the city limits of Hohenwald, Tennessee, Lewis County does not require a building permit for any type of structure or any sized structure, residential or commercial use.”
  • Owner-builder exemption · follows from the permit answerNot needed

    Unincorporated Lewis County: no county building permit is required, so there is no permit to be exempt from and you may build your own home. State licensing for electrical, plumbing and HVAC work may still apply.

    • The rule applies outside Hohenwald city limits.
    • Within Hohenwald city limits, applicants should contact the City of Hohenwald for its requirements.
    “If you are planning to build outside the city limits of Hohenwald, Tennessee, Lewis County does not require a building permit for any type of structure or any sized structure, residential or commercial use.”
  • Building code adoptedPartial

    Statewide residential building-construction-code participation for one- and two-family dwellings in Lewis County and the City of Hohenwald.

    • The Tennessee Fire Marshal's Office list identifies Lewis County as OPT OUT and Hohenwald as EXEMPT.
    • The state explains that counties and municipalities may elect to exempt one- and two-family dwellings from statewide standards within their jurisdictional boundaries.
    • The state list defines OPT OUT as a jurisdiction that has passed a resolution opting out of the program and EXEMPT as a jurisdiction that has received an exemption.
    • The state list states that the information was accurate as of 2026-08-21.
    • In an opt-out or non-code jurisdiction, an owner or contractor may request a State Fire Marshal inspection and obtain a state building permit; if the dwelling meets statewide standards, the State Fire Marshal's Office may release a Certificate of Occupancy.
    “Lewis County | OPT OUT | Ronnie Galloway | [email protected] | 931-201-3844 Hohenwald | EXEMPT”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Not adopted (with conditions) — State residential building-code enforcement for one- and two-family dwellings in unincorporated Lewis County.
      “Lewis County | OPT OUT | Ronnie Galloway | [email protected] | 931-201-3844 [...] OPT OUT - The jurisdiction has passed a resolution opting out of the program”
  • Local zoningVaries (with conditions)

    Local zoning across Lewis County, aggregating the City of Hohenwald and unincorporated county areas.

    • The City of Hohenwald has some zoning requirements; city-limit rules are administered by the city.
    • Outside Hohenwald city limits, Lewis County states that it requires only what is outlined in Tennessee Code Annotated.
    • This is an aggregate county claim and does not attribute Hohenwald's zoning administration to Lewis County.
    “The City of Hohenwald has some zoning requirments and will need to be contacted for more information. However, outside the city limits, Lewis County ony requires what is outlined in TCA code.”
  • Minimum dwelling sizeNone

    Minimum dwelling size requirements outside the Hohenwald city limits in Lewis County.

    • The City of Hohenwald has zoning requirements that must be separately confirmed.
    • Tennessee Code Annotated requirements still apply.
    “However, outside the city limits, Lewis County ony requires what is outlined in TCA code.”
  • Minimum lot sizeNone

    County zoning-based minimum lot size outside the Hohenwald city limits in Lewis County.

    • The City of Hohenwald has zoning requirements that must be separately confirmed.
    • Tennessee Code Annotated requirements still apply.
    “However, outside the city limits, Lewis County ony requires what is outlined in TCA code.”
  • SetbacksNone

    County zoning-based setbacks outside the Hohenwald city limits in Lewis County.

    • The City of Hohenwald has zoning requirements that must be separately confirmed.
    • Tennessee Code Annotated requirements still apply.
    “However, outside the city limits, Lewis County ony requires what is outlined in TCA code.”
  • Lot coverageNone

    County zoning-based lot coverage outside the Hohenwald city limits in Lewis County.

    • The City of Hohenwald has zoning requirements that must be separately confirmed.
    • Tennessee Code Annotated requirements still apply.
    “However, outside the city limits, Lewis County ony requires what is outlined in TCA code.”
  • Building heightNone

    County zoning-based building-height limits outside the Hohenwald city limits in Lewis County.

    • The City of Hohenwald has zoning requirements that must be separately confirmed.
    • Tennessee Code Annotated requirements still apply.
    “However, outside the city limits, Lewis County ony requires what is outlined in TCA code.”
  • Permit feesNot published

    Building new structures outside the Hohenwald city limits in Lewis County.

    • The statement does not apply within Hohenwald city limits; the county directs applicants there to contact the City of Hohenwald.
    “Lewis County does not have any fees associated with building new structures outside of the city limits of Hohenwald.”
  • Permit processNot published

    County building-permit process for structures outside Hohenwald city limits.

    • The county states that Hohenwald may have separate requirements.
    “If you are planning to build outside the city limits of Hohenwald, Tennessee, Lewis County does not require a building permit for any type of structure or any sized structure, residential or commercial use.”
  • County-wide zoningAbsent

    Outside the City of Hohenwald, Lewis County does not zone and only requires what is outlined in Tennessee Code Annotated (TCA); it employs no building/codes staff.

    Lewis County Government - Zoning ↗Scouted from the county site, not yet independently re-checked

Tennessee rules that apply here

  • InspectionsLimited

    Optional State Fire Marshal inspection of one- or two-family dwellings and additions in Lewis County, which Tennessee lists as an OPT OUT jurisdiction.

    • The State Fire Marshal’s Office may inspect during construction for new construction and additions.
    • The owner or contractor may obtain a state building permit to request the inspection.
    • The dwelling must be determined to meet statewide building construction safety standards for the State Fire Marshal’s Office to release a certificate of occupancy.
    • The source states that Lewis County is OPT OUT and identifies Ronnie Galloway as the listed inspector.
    “Their home may now be inspected by an inspector with the State Fire Marshal’s Office during the construction process, both for new construction and additions to existing homes.”
  • Certificate of occupancyLimited

    Certificate of occupancy issued through the optional State Fire Marshal inspection route for one- or two-family dwellings in Lewis County, an OPT OUT jurisdiction.

    • The source addresses one- and two-family dwellings in opt-out or non-code jurisdictions.
    • The dwelling must be determined to meet statewide building construction safety standards.
    • The owner or contractor must obtain a state building permit and request the inspection route.
    • This claim does not establish a countywide mandatory certificate-of-occupancy requirement for all structures.
    “If the one- or two-family dwelling is determined to meet the statewide building construction safety standards, the State Fire Marshal’s Office will release a Certificate of Occupancy, often referred to as a “CO.””
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Tiny homesAllowed (with conditions)

    A non-ready-removable tiny-home-type structure intended for residential use in Lewis County where it meets the State Fire Marshal's criteria for treatment as a one- or two-family dwelling.

    • Only the exterior walls, floor, and roof systems may be constructed off-site and they must comply with the 2018 International Residential Code.
    • No electrical or plumbing systems may be installed at transport.
    • All structural components must be visible at transport, subject to the stated interior-framing allowance.
    • The structure must comply with inspection, permit, and code requirements for one- and two-family dwellings.
    • The structure must be placed on a foundation with a sill plate following 2018 IRC R403.1.6, or on concrete piers with proper footings and anchoring designed by a registered engineer.
    • If located in a jurisdiction monitored by SFMO, applicable permits and inspections are required; if monitored by a local building official, that jurisdiction's permit and inspection requirements apply.
    • Lewis County's official website states that outside Hohenwald the county does not require a building permit, but Tennessee septic and electrical requirements still apply.
    “will be considered a one- or two-family dwelling by the SFMO”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Prohibited — Modification of a Tennessee ready-removable structure for residential, recreational, or emergency housing, including a tiny-home-type ready-removable structure located in Lewis County.
      “No ready-removable shall be modified for use as residential, recreational, or emergency housing in this state.”
  • Manufactured homesAllowed (with conditions)

    Placement and occupancy of a manufactured home in Lewis County, Tennessee, subject to Tennessee installation requirements and any separate local or state requirements applicable to the site.

    • No state residential building permit is required to place a manufactured home.
    • The manufactured home must be installed by a licensed installer.
    • An installation decal must be applied after completion of setup.
    • A Manufactured/Modular Site Work Permit is required for a custom addition, site-built deck, porch, or stoop next to the home.
    • The state residential building permit does not replace septic, sewer, electrical, zoning, grading, or floodplain approvals where otherwise required.
    • Lewis County's official website states that outside Hohenwald it does not require a building permit for any type or size of structure, while Hohenwald requirements must be checked with the city.
    “Manufactured homes must be installed by licensed installers and must have an installation decal applied after completion of the set-up.”
  • Who permits septicState

    Subsurface sewage disposal system permitting and inspection in Lewis County, including unincorporated county areas.

    • Lewis County's official page states that the septic requirement is imposed by Tennessee state law and that Lewis County has nothing specific regarding septic systems.
    • The TDEC construction-permit page directs applications and processing to the Division of Water Resources and the appropriate Environmental Field Office.
    “Completed application forms and application fees should be sent to the Division of Water Resources at the appropriate Environmental Field Office. A detailed review of the application is conducted, and the applicant is notified when the review is complete.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • State — Septic-system regulation and permitting applicable in Lewis County, including unincorporated areas.
      “Again, this is Tennessee State Law. Lewis County does not have anything specific regarding these topics.”
  • 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, installation, modification, or repair of a subsurface sewage disposal system on property in Lewis County.
      “A septic system permit is required for the construction, modification or repair of a septic system.”
  • Septic inspectionRequired

    Installation of a subsurface sewage disposal system in Lewis County.

    • The installer must contact the local Environmental Scientist to schedule a final inspection before the system is covered.
    • The Division inspects each SSDS installation for compliance with permit conditions and regulatory requirements.
    • A Certificate of Completion is issued if the installation is approved.
    • Inspection fees are $100 for a new conventional SSDS, $200 for a new alternative SSDS, and $100 for a repair construction inspection.

    new conventional SSDS construction inspection fee: 100 USD · new alternative SSDS construction inspection fee: 200 USD · repair construction inspection fee: 100 USD

    “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.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Required — New septic-system installations in Lewis County.
      “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.””
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Subdividing landLimited

    Division of a tract or parcel into two or more lots, sites, or other divisions for immediate or future construction where a septic system will be used, including unincorporated Lewis County.

    • A subdivision evaluation is required before the Division performs the evaluation.
    • A survey and soils map must be submitted.
    • The soils map must be created by a soil consultant licensed in Tennessee.
    • A division into two or more tracts or parcels is not a subdivision for this rule when all are 5 acres or larger in size.

    minimum lots or divisions triggering evaluation: >= 2 lots/sites/divisions · minimum size exception: >= 5 acres per tract or parcel (All resulting tracts or parcels must be 5 acres or larger.)

    “A Subdivision Evaluation is required [...] where a septic system is or will be used. [...] all are 5 acres or larger in size.”
  • 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”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Required — Commercial driveway access connecting to a Tennessee state highway right-of-way, including access in Lewis County.
      “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 of any existing driveway facilities. Property owners must obtain a permit from TDOT.”
  • 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.”

Inside cities and towns in Lewis County

Municipal rules found while researching the county. They apply inside that city or town, not to unincorporated land.

  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land use and construction within the City of Hohenwald, Lewis County, Tennessee.

    • City requirements apply within Hohenwald city limits; the Lewis County page directs persons building within Hohenwald to contact the City of Hohenwald for its requirements.
    “» City of Hohenwald Zoning » City of Hohenwald Zoning Map”
  • Mandatory utility hookupWater (with conditions)

    Subdivision development within the City of Hohenwald when a public water main is within reasonable access, as determined by the Planning Commission.

    • The rule applies to subdivisions within Hohenwald's municipal jurisdiction.
    • The subdivider must install adequate water facilities when a public water main is within reasonable access.
    • Facilities are subject to Planning Commission and TDEC specifications and approval.
    • Fire-protection water mains must be at least 6 inches in diameter and use two connections to create a looped system.
    • Fire hydrants are required in subdivisions where public water is available.

    minimum fire-protection water-main diameter: >= 6 inches · maximum fire-hydrant spacing: <= 1000 feet (Hydrants must also be within 500 feet of any residential, commercial, or industrial lot.)

    “Where a public water main is within reasonable access of the subdivision as determined by the Planning Commission, the subdivider shall install adequate water facilities, including fire hydrants subject to construction and materials specifications, approval of the Planning Commission, the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation in these Regulations.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Sewer (with conditions) — Subdivision lots within the City of Hohenwald when public sanitary sewers are within reasonable access, as determined by the Planning Commission.
      “When public sanitary sewers are within reasonable access of the subdivision as determined by the Planning Commission, the subdividers shall provide sanitary sewer facilities to each lot therein and shall connect the facilities to a public system.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission — ask the county directly.

  • Zoning districts — Zoning districts in unincorporated Lewis County, Tennessee.
  • Living in an RV — Long-term or permanent occupancy of recreational vehicles on private land in Lewis County, including the Hohenwald city limits.
  • Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land in Lewis County, including the Hohenwald city limits.
  • Accessory dwellings — Accessory dwelling units or secondary dwelling units in Lewis County, including the Hohenwald city limits.
  • Off-grid sanitation — Off-grid sanitation systems in Lewis County, including privies, composting toilets, holding systems, and other non-sewer wastewater arrangements.
3 more unanswered
  • Well permit
  • Building in a floodplain
  • 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 Lewis County, Tennessee

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

Lewis County scores 84/100 on the Bolthole Index, a strong county profile. Its strengths: low administrative friction for a quiet rural property and manageable long-term carry cost.

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

Lewis County does not require a county building permit for a home in unincorporated areas, and it has no county-wide zoning. Onsite septic is permitted by Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) - Subsurface Sewage Disposal System Program. 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 Lewis County, Tennessee?

Land in Lewis County runs about $3,635 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in Lewis County?

Lewis County gets about 57.1" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 4.5% of years.

How remote is Lewis County?

A representative private-land location has about 18,659 people within a 30-minute drive and 3,227,140 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 Lewis County means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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How Lewis compares in Tennessee

Compare side-by-side →See all 95 Tennessee counties ranked →