Bolthole Index

Maury County, Tennessee

Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Mount Pleasant, Tennessee

Mount Pleasant, Tennessee (Maury County) enforces its own zoning ordinance on all land inside city limits1. Building permit and codes questions go to the city's Building and Planning department2, which works under the 2012 International Building Code3. We could not confirm who issues septic permits inside the city, so ask the state septic office before you buy4. Maury County's rules cover only land outside city limits.

At a glance

Zoning
City ordinance applies to all land inside Mount Pleasant limits1
Building code
2012 International Building Code, with local amendments3
Permit office
City Building & Planning department2
Septic
State septic permit required statewide; city-limits authority not confirmed5
RV living
Visitors only, up to two weeks per calendar year6
Smallest residential lot
18,000 sq ft in R1; 5+ acres in RA78
Accessory dwelling
Allowed in R1 with conditions9
Owner-builder
Not confirmed inside city limits; ask Building & Planning2

Who to call

Building permits

City of Mount Pleasant Building & Planning Department

Building and planning questions, permit applications and codes enforcement inside Mount Pleasant city limits

(931) 379-7717

[email protected]

209 Bond Street, Mount Pleasant, TN 38474

Septic permits

Tennessee Department of Environment & Conservation, Division of Water Resources - Columbia Environmental Field Office

State septic system construction permits for Maury County, the office the county sends applicants to

931-380-3371

1421 Hampshire Pike, Columbia, TN 38401

Online permits →

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 24, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Mount Pleasant means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Does Mount Pleasant, Tennessee have zoning?

Yes. Mount Pleasant's zoning ordinance applies to all land, uses, buildings and structures inside the corporate limits of the city1. The city is divided into residential, agricultural, commercial and industrial districts10, so the first question for any lot is which district it sits in.

Two residential districts show how much that matters. In R1 Low Density Residential, the minimum lot is 18,000 sq ft, with a 30-foot front setback, 15-foot side setback and 20-foot rear setback711. In the RA Large Lot Residential/Agricultural district, the minimum lot is 5+ acres, with 50-foot front and rear setbacks and a 25-foot side setback8.

Detached accessory dwellings in R1 need planning-commission site-plan and design-review approval, and an owner must live on the premises at least 75 percent of the year9. We did not find a minimum house size in the ordinance sections we reviewed, so ask Building and Planning2.

Do you need a building permit in Mount Pleasant, and who issues it?

Inside Mount Pleasant, building permit and codes questions go to the city's Building and Planning department, not the Maury County Building & Zoning Office2. The city code adopts the 2012 International Building Code, with the appendices it specifies3.

Two city fees are published for planning work: a use and occupancy permit costs $5012. Development in a mapped flood area also needs a floodplain development permit from the city's administrator before work starts13.

We could not confirm an owner-builder exemption inside city limits, so assume you will pull a permit as the owner and ask Building and Planning what it needs from you2. Do not apply at the county counter: Maury County's permit office serves unincorporated land only14.

How do septic permits work inside Mount Pleasant?

Tennessee requires a state septic system permit for building, changing or repairing a septic system5. For Maury County, the county's permit packet sends applicants to the Tennessee Department of Environment & Conservation field office in Columbia4.

We could not confirm who administers septic systems for lots inside Mount Pleasant limits, or whether the city allows a new septic system where sewer is nearby. The city does require anyone who wants water and sewer service to sign its standard contract and pay a service deposit first15. Tennessee also lets qualifying utility systems require buildings along a sewered street to connect to it16.

Before you buy, ask Building and Planning whether sewer reaches the lot2, and ask the TDEC office whether it would permit a septic system there4.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Mount Pleasant?

Not as a long-term home on a residential lot. Mount Pleasant's zoning ordinance bars using a recreational vehicle, camper, travel trailer or motor home for living, sleeping or housekeeping, except for visitors for not more than two weeks per calendar year6. Living in an RV while you build is therefore not allowed inside the city.

We did not find a tiny-home rule in the ordinance. A tiny home built on a foundation would be treated like any other dwelling: it must fit the district's lot, setback and permit rules above11. Ask Building and Planning before you plan around one2.

Mobile-home parks are allowed only in the MHP district, which requires a 40,000-square-foot minimum lot, 5,000 square feet per unit and 50-foot perimeter setbacks17.

Building a home in Mount Pleasant: the steps, in order

  1. Confirm the lot's zoning district and setbacks with the city Building and Planning department2.
  2. Ask whether city water and sewer reach the lot, then sign the standard utility contract and pay the deposit15.
  3. If sewer is not available, ask TDEC about a septic permit before any dirt work5.
  4. If you are splitting the lot, plan for subdivision review; the published application fee is $200 for a minor subdivision and $500 for a major one18.
  5. Check flood maps; a flood-prone site needs a development permit first13.
  6. Submit building plans to the city under the 2012 International Building Code3.
  7. Pay the $50 use and occupancy fee before moving in12.

What stays with Maury County, and what to check before you buy

Land just outside Mount Pleasant is governed by Maury County, not the city. The county's zoning ordinance covers only unincorporated Maury County19, and county building permits are for new construction there14. Read Maury County's page if the parcel you are looking at is outside city limits.

Whichever side of the line you buy on, check the state septic requirement5 and floodplain status. Maury County's effective property tax rate is 0.5%20. Driveways on county roads need Maury County Highway Department approval, while state roads go through TDOT21; we could not confirm a city driveway rule for streets inside Mount Pleasant.

Watch-outs

  • We could not confirm who issues septic permits for lots inside Mount Pleasant limits; ask the TDEC field office and city Building and Planning before you close4.
  • We could not confirm an owner-builder exemption, a well rule or an agricultural exemption inside the city; ask Building and Planning2.
  • Maury County's rules, including its permit and driveway requirements, apply only outside city limits19.

Sources

  1. Mount Pleasant, Tennessee, Code of Ordinances, Appendix B Zoning Ordinance (Mount Pleasant), quoted and re-checked
  2. City of Mount Pleasant Building & Planning Department (mtpleasant-tn.gov)
  3. Mount Pleasant Municipal Code (Mount Pleasant), quoted and re-checked
  4. Tennessee Department of Environment & Conservation, Division of Water Resources - Columbia Environmental Field Office (maurycounty-tn.gov)
  5. Septic System Construction Permit (Tennessee statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  6. Mount Pleasant, Tennessee, Code of Ordinances, Appendix B Zoning Ordinance (Mount Pleasant), quoted and re-checked
  7. Mount Pleasant, Tennessee, Code of Ordinances, Appendix B Zoning Ordinance (Mount Pleasant), quoted and re-checked
  8. Mount Pleasant, Tennessee, Code of Ordinances, Appendix B Zoning Ordinance (Mount Pleasant), quoted and re-checked
  9. Mount Pleasant, Tennessee, Code of Ordinances, Appendix B Zoning Ordinance (Mount Pleasant), quoted and re-checked
  10. Mount Pleasant, Tennessee, Code of Ordinances, Appendix B Zoning Ordinance (Mount Pleasant), quoted and re-checked
  11. Mount Pleasant, Tennessee, Code of Ordinances, Appendix B Zoning Ordinance (Mount Pleasant), quoted and re-checked
  12. Mount Pleasant, Tennessee, Code of Ordinances, Appendix B Zoning Ordinance (Mount Pleasant), quoted and re-checked
  13. Mount Pleasant Zoning Ordinance, floodplain provisions (Mount Pleasant), quoted and re-checked
  14. Building & Zoning Office | Maury County, TN, quoted and re-checked
  15. Mount Pleasant Municipal Code (Mount Pleasant), quoted and re-checked
  16. Utility Customers Frequently Asked Questions (Tennessee statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  17. Mount Pleasant, Tennessee, Code of Ordinances, Appendix B Zoning Ordinance (Mount Pleasant), quoted and re-checked
  18. Mount Pleasant, Tennessee, Code of Ordinances, Appendix B Zoning Ordinance (Mount Pleasant), quoted and re-checked
  19. Maury County Zoning Ordinance, quoted and re-checked
  20. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  21. 2026 Building Permit Application & Fees, quoted and re-checked

Written October 24, 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.

Answers from the rulebook for Mount Pleasant

Mount Pleasant’s own rules

  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    Buildings and structures inside Mount Pleasant city.

    • The city code identifies the adopted edition as the 2012 International Building Code and specifies appendices in § 12-102.

    adopted code edition: 2012 International Building Code (Appendices specified in § 12-102)

    “the International Building Code, 2012 edition, and the appendices specified in § 12-102, as hereinafter amended [...] are hereby adopted and incorporated by reference, as part of this code”
  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land inside the corporate limits of Mount Pleasant city.

    • The ordinance states it applies within Mount Pleasant and was enacted by the Mount Pleasant Commission.
    “A. Territorial application. This ordinance shall apply to all land, uses, buildings, and structures within the corporate limits of the city.”
  • Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

    Mount Pleasant city zoning districts.

    • The ordinance also publishes commercial and industrial districts in Table 3.
    “In order to carry out the purpose and intent of this ordinance, the city shall be divided into the following zoning districts (Table 2 and Table 3):”
  • Living in an RVTemporary only (with conditions)

    Recreational vehicles, campers, travel trailers, and motor homes used on private land inside Mount Pleasant city.

    • Visitor occupancy is limited to no more than two weeks per calendar year.

    visitor occupancy maximum: <= 2 weeks per calendar year (visitors only)

    “No recreational vehicle, camper, travel trailer, motor home, or the like shall be used for living, sleeping, or housekeeping purposes except for visitors for not more than two weeks per calendar year.”
  • Manufactured homesLimited

    Mobile-home parks in the MHP district inside Mount Pleasant city.

    • MHP district standards require a 40,000-square-foot minimum lot, 5,000 square feet per unit maximum density, 50-foot perimeter setbacks, 30% maximum lot coverage, 20-foot maximum height, and design-review requirements.

    minimum park lot size: 40000 sq ft · maximum density: 5000 sq ft per unit

    “Table 9. MHP Bulk Regulations Category Requirement Minimum Lot Size 40,000 sq ft. Minimum Lot Width 100' Maximum Density 5,000 sq ft. per unit Front Setback 50' Side Setback 50' Rear Setback 50' Maximum Lot Coverage 30%”
  • Accessory dwellingsAllowed (with conditions)

    Accessory dwelling units in the R1 Low Density Residential district inside Mount Pleasant city.

    • Detached accessory dwellings require planning-commission site-plan and design-review approval.
    • At least one owner must reside on the premises for at least 75 percent of the year; one off-street space per accessory dwelling is required; separate public utility hookups and Maury County E911 addressing are required.
    “At least one owner of the premises must reside in either the dwelling or the accessory apartment or dwelling or both. For purposes of this section, "reside" means that this is the owner's principal place of residence for at least 75 percent of the year.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupConditional

    Prospective water-and-sewer customers inside Mount Pleasant city.

    • A prospective customer must sign the standard contract and pay a service deposit before service is supplied.
    • This source establishes conditions for city utility service, not a universal mandatory-connection rule for all new homes.
    “Each prospective customer desiring water and sewer service will be required to sign a standard form contract and pay a service deposit before service is supplied.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision proposals inside Mount Pleasant city.

    • A flood-prone subdivision must be reviewed for flood safety; public utilities, drainage, and flood-damage minimization are required under the floodplain provisions.
    • The published fee schedule distinguishes minor subdivisions of 1-4 lots and major subdivisions of 5 or more lots or projects with public improvements.

    minor subdivision application fee: 200 USD (plus $75 per lot) · major subdivision application fee: 500 USD (plus $50 per lot; 5 or more lots or public improvements)

    “Subdivisions and other proposed new developments, including manufactured home parks, shall be reviewed to determine whether such proposals will be reasonably safe from flooding.”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    Development activities inside Mount Pleasant city subject to the ordinance's floodplain provisions.

    • Permit application must be made to the administrator on forms furnished by the community before development activities.
    • Additional federal or state permits may be required.
    “Requirement for development permit. A development permit shall be required in conformity with this ordinance prior to the commencement of any development activities.”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    Planning, zoning, site-plan, and use-and-occupancy applications inside Mount Pleasant city.

    • Professional consultant review fees are additional to certain site-plan fees.

    minor subdivision fee: 200 USD (plus $75 per lot) · major subdivision fee: 500 USD (plus $50 per lot) · use and occupancy permit fee: 50 USD

    “Minor Subdivision (1—4 Lots) $200.00 + $75.00/Lot Major Subdivision (5 or more lots or public improvements) $500.00 + $50.00/Lot”

Rules another office applies inside Mount Pleasant

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

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Mount Pleasant or Maury County directly.

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Mount Pleasant city.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Mount Pleasant city.
  • Tiny homes — Tiny homes used as dwellings inside Mount Pleasant city.
  • Who permits septic — On-site sewage systems inside Mount Pleasant city.
  • Septic permit — On-site sewage systems inside Mount Pleasant city.
5 more unanswered
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Driveway access

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.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Mount Pleasant publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Maury County’s page lists the county offices to call.

← All of Maury County: county rules, score and offices