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

Town of Baxter’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Construction, moving, addition or filling of land inside Baxter town (building/zoning permit)

  • The permit certifies conformity with the zoning ordinance
  • Application in writing on town forms

  “it shall be unlawful to commence the excavation for or the construction of any building or other structure, including accessory structures, to commence the moving of or addition to any structure, including accessory structures or to commence the filling of land until the building/zoning compliance officer has issued for such work a building/zoning permit”

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Baxter town limits (Putnam County)

  • Adopted under Tenn. Code Ann. 13-7-201 to 13-7-210
  • Annexed territory is automatically zoned R-1 until rezoned

  “an ordinance establishing comprehensive zoning regulations for the town of baxter, tennessee, and providing for the administration, enforcement and amendment therefore, in accordance with the provisions of sections 13-7-201 through 13-7-210, tennessee code annotated”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Baxter town zoning districts

  • Town's web copy of the zoning map is a 2010 reference reproduction; official map is kept at City Hall

  “r-1 low density residential district r-m residential medium density district r-2 high density residential district cbd, central business district c-1 central commercial district c-2 general commercial district i-1 light industrial district”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  R-1 Low Density Residential district, Baxter town

  • Or as determined by TDEC (septic)
  • Lot width at building line 80 ft
  • Nonconforming lots of record may still be built on

  minimum lot area, single-family: >= 10000 sq ft (or as determined by TDEC) · minimum lot area, two-family: >= 20000 sq ft

  “minimum lot area 10,000 sq. ft. or as determined by the tennessee department of environemnt and conservation. [amended 2014] minimum lot area for two-family dwelling 20,000 sq. ft. minimum lot width at building line 80 ft.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  R-1 Low Density Residential district, Baxter town

  • Corner-lot side yards 50% greater
  • Accessory buildings at least 5 ft from lot lines and not in required front or side yard

  front yard, minor street: >= 30 ft · front yard, secondary thoroughfare: >= 40 ft · front yard, primary street: >= 50 ft · rear yard: >= 30 ft · side yard, one or two story: >= 15 ft · side yard, three story: >= 20 ft

  “minimum depth of front yard: a. minor street 30 ft. b. secondary thoroughfare 40 ft. c. primary street 50 ft.”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  R-1 Low Density Residential district, Baxter town

  maximum building area: <= 25 percent of lot

  “building area on any lot the area occupied by all buildings, including accessory buildings, shall not exceed twenty-five percent (25%) of the total area of such lot.”

• Building heightSpecified

  All structures in Baxter town (Art. III Sec. 11); R-1 accessory buildings limited to one story / 16 ft

  • Does not apply to spires, towers, domes not for human occupancy, flag poles, masts, silos or chimneys

  maximum height: <= 35 ft or 3 stories (spires, towers, silos, chimneys etc.)

  “for all structures the maximum building height shall be thirty-five (35) feet or three (3) stories. b. these provisions do not apply to spires, towers, domes not for human occupancy, flag poles, masts, silos or chimneys.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Manufactured homes on individual lots in Baxter town; excluded from R-1 as new dwellings, allowed in R-2 per Art. VI Sec. 3

  • Unit must be not more than five years old at initial setup
  • Art. VI Sec. 3 conditions apply; R-1 allows only replacement of an existing manufactured home within six months

  maximum age at setup: <= 5 years

  “single and two-family detached dwellings; excluding manufactured homes and mobile homes.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Baxter town
• Building code adopted — Baxter town
• Inspections — Baxter town
• Certificate of occupancy — Baxter town
• Minimum dwelling size — Baxter 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.