Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Town of Petersburg, Tennessee

Town of Petersburg’s own rules

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  Buildings and structures inside Petersburg town

  • 2012 edition of the International Building Code with appendices C, E, F, G, H, I, J and K
  • Section 12-202 modifications not reviewed
  • Title 12 also lists plumbing, residential, energy, fuel gas, mechanical and property maintenance codes

  IBC edition: 2012

  “the international building code2, 2012 edition, and appendices c, e, f, g, h, i, j and k thereto, as prepared and published by the international code council, is hereby adopted and incorporated by reference as a part of this code”

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Petersburg town limits

  • The zoning ordinance itself is published separately and is of record with the town recorder; its text was not opened.
  • Code copy is hosted by MTAS (University of Tennessee), not on a town site.

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

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Mobile homes placed or used on lots inside Petersburg town

  • Owner must apply for a permit; a temporary permit is issued by the mayor and/or board of aldermen
  • Within 30 days the board must find by majority vote that the mobile home complies with chapter 14-3, for a general permit
  • Where public sewer is unavailable, septic requires 7,500 sq ft per mobile home and suitable soils (§ 14-3 text says 'seventy thousand five hundred (7,500)')
  • Zoning district rules not reviewed

  “it shall be unlawful for any mobile home to be used, stored, or placed on any lot, or services by the utilities of the town unless:”

• Septic permitRequired

  Septic systems, privies and other sewage disposal facilities inside Petersburg town that require health officer approval

  • Approval of design and location and a permit from the health officer are needed before construction begins
  • Septic allowed only where no accessible sewer exists (§ 18-204)
  • Code defines health officer as the director of a town, county or district health department; which office is not stated

  “shall before the initiation of construction obtain the approval of the health officer for the design and location of the system and secure a permit from the health officer for such system.”

• Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

  Premises inside Petersburg town with an accessible public sewer

  • Applies where an accessible sewer exists and water under pressure is available
  • Sewer connection fee and tap fee are payable before connection
  • Where sewer is accessible no other method of sewage disposal may be used
  • Section 18-201 defines accessible sewer by distance (200 feet in the definition, not fully quoted)

  “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 said sewer”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Building permits inside Petersburg town
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption inside Petersburg town
• Inspections — Building inspections inside Petersburg town
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy inside Petersburg town
• Zoning districts — Zoning districts inside Petersburg 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.