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

Town of Oakdale’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  New residences, buildings and mobile home set-up inside Oakdale town limits

  • Also required for additions, pools, driveways, signs, moving/demolition, fences adjoining town streets and detached buildings not exceeding 150 square feet.
  • No permit needed for non-structural interior changes, wiring changes, plumbing changes, door/window replacement, roof/siding replacement, or septic systems.
  • Based on 1996 code; currency not confirmed.

  “(1) a building permit must be obtained, and the fee paid therefore, before any individual may commence: (a) construction of a new residence or building; (b) set up a mobile home;”

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  Buildings inside Oakdale town limits

  • Edition adopted in the 1996 code is the 1994 Standard Building Code with 1996 revisions; later amendments or updates were not found and the code may be outdated.

  adopted code: Standard Building Code, 1994 edition with 1996 revisions (SBCCI)

  “the standard building code2, 1994 edition with 1996 revisions, as prepared and adopted by the southern building code congress international, inc., is hereby adopted”

• Local zoningPresent

  Land use inside Oakdale town limits

  • Code is the 1996 MTAS codification (page lists 02/04/1997 update); zoning ordinance 90-39 and amendments are separate documents held by the town recorder and were not reviewed.
  • Code is not confirmed as current.

  “land use within the town of oakdale shall be governed by ordinance number 90-39, titled "oakdale zoning ordinance" and any amendments thereto.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Septic tanks, privies and other sewage disposal facilities inside Oakdale town limits

  • Applies to facilities requiring the health officer's approval under chapter 18-1; septic use only where no accessible sewer exists (§ 18-103).
  • Based on 1996 code; currency not confirmed.

  “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 Oakdale town limits with accessible public sewer

  • Applies where an accessible sewer exists and water under pressure is available; 'accessible sewer' is defined in § 18-101 (public sewer in an abutting street/alley or within a stated distance).
  • Septic tank allowed only where no accessible sewer exists (§ 18-104).
  • Based on 1996 code; currency not confirmed.

  “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”

• Permit feesPublished

  Building permits inside Oakdale town limits

  • Fee table is by total valuation, with a fee for each inspection; the code says cost may change if recommended by the municipal planning commission.
  • Based on 1996 code; current fees not confirmed.

  “(3) building permit fees shall be as follows: total valuation $0 to $2,000.00 $2,001.00 to $15,000.00 $15,001.00 to $50,000.00”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builders inside Oakdale town limits
• Inspections — Inspections inside Oakdale town limits
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy inside Oakdale town limits
• Zoning districts — Zoning districts inside Oakdale town limits
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Oakdale town limits

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.