Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Town of Powells Crossroads, Tennessee

Town of Powells Crossroads’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Construction inside Powells Crossroads town limits

  • Enforced by the zoning/building official.
  • Site plan approval by planning commission required except for single and two-family dwellings, agricultural buildings and signs; sketch plan may still be required.

  “a building permit is required prior to the excavation, site preparation, alteration, construction, or moving of any structure, building, or parking lot.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Buildings and land inside Powells Crossroads town limits

  • Issued only if ordinance, applicable building and fire codes, and permit conditions are satisfied.
  • Denial reasons are entered in writing on the application.

  “no building or land shall hereafter be occupied unless a certificate of occupancy has been issued.”

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Powells Crossroads town limits

  • Ordinance adopted 2003 and amended through May 26, 2026; copy hosted by the regional development district (sedev.org), not found on a town site or code host.

  “this ordinance shall be known as the "zoning ordinance of the town of powells crossroads, tennessee."”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Powells Crossroads town: R-1, R-2, Commercial and AG districts

  • Official Zoning Map is incorporated by reference.

  “the map herein referred to and entitled "official zoning map of the town of powells crossroads, tennessee" and all explanatory material thereon are hereby made a part of this ordinance.”

• Minimum dwelling sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Dwellings in R-1 and R-2 districts inside Powells Crossroads town

  • Minimums stated for R-1 and R-2 only; AG and Commercial minimum not separately stated in the passage reviewed.

  R-1 single-family minimum gross floor area: >= 800 sq ft · R-2 detached single-family and multi-family minimum per unit: >= 600 sq ft

  “single-family dwellings in the r-1 low density residential district shall have a gross floor area of not less than eight-hundred (800) square feet of living space.”

• SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

  R-1 (low density residential) and AG (agricultural) districts inside Powells Crossroads town

  • Values read from a flattened table in column order R-1, R-2, C, AG; front 20/20/20/50, rear 25/25/30/40, side 10/10/20/30.
  • Section 9 exceptions (front yards, absolute minimums) not reviewed.

  R-1 front/rear/side yard: 20/25/10 feet · AG front/rear/side yard: 50/40/30 feet

  “20' 20' 20' 50' 25' 25' 30' 40' 10' 10' 20' 30' 35' 35' 35' 35'”

• Building heightSpecified

  R-1, R-2, Commercial and AG districts inside Powells Crossroads town

  • Table text is flattened in the source; maximum height column reads 35' for all four districts.

  maximum height: <= 35 feet (Section 9-4 height-limit exceptions apply)

  “20' 20' 20' 50' 25' 25' 30' 40' 10' 10' 20' 30' 35' 35' 35' 35' 800 sq. ft. 600 sq. ft”

• Living in an RVTemporary only (with conditions)

  RV, fifth wheel or travel trailer placed on a lot with an existing residence inside Powells Crossroads town

  • Temporary use permit only for medical hardship assistance; physician's written statement required.
  • Must not be a hazard to safety, health or welfare.
  • General RV occupancy rules outside this hardship provision not found.

  “in any district, a temporary use permit may be issued to place a recreational vehicle, 5th wheel, travel trailer, etc., on a lot which already contains a residential structure”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Single-wide mobile homes inside Powells Crossroads town

  • Allowed only in a licensed mobile home park or as a permitted use in the zoning district.
  • Existing lawfully placed units grandfathered at present location.
  • AG district: one single-wide on review by planning commission, on at least 2 acres with no other residence, underpinned/skirted/anchored, must pass inspection and meet building codes, meet setbacks, not in a flood zone.

  “it shall be unlawful for any single-wide mobile home to be used, stored, or placed on any lot or serviced by the utilities of said town where said mobile home is outside of any designated and licensed mobile home park or as a permitted use in the respective zoning district.”

• Permit processPartial

  Building permit issuance inside Powells Crossroads town

  • Denial reasons entered in writing on application.
  • Process is described only in the zoning ordinance; no separate application page found.

  “where the building official determines that all requirements of this ordinance and applicable building codes have been met, a building permit shall be issued.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Town of Powells Crossroads or Marion County directly.

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builders inside Powells Crossroads town
• Building code adopted — Building code inside Powells Crossroads town
• Inspections — Inspections inside Powells Crossroads town
• Lot coverage — Lot coverage inside Powells Crossroads town
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping inside Powells Crossroads town

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.