Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Harriman, Tennessee

Harriman’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Construction, moving or alteration of any building including accessory buildings inside Harriman city

  • Application is made to the municipal building official.
  • Multi-family, commercial, public, semi-public and industrial uses need planning commission site plan approval before permit issuance.

  “it shall be unlawful to commence the excavation for or the construction of any building including accessory buildings, or to commence the moving or alteration of any building, including accessory buildings until the building official has issued for such work a building per including a statement that the plans, specifications, and intended use of such building in all respects conform with the provisions of this ordinance.”

• InspectionsLimited

  Final inspection of buildings inside Harriman city under the zoning ordinance

  • Final inspection occurs on notification by owner or occupant; building code inspection stages not verified.

  final inspection timeframe: <= 6 work days

  “within six (6) work days of such application, the building official shall make a final inspection of the property in question”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Buildings, structures and additions inside Harriman city

  • Issued only if the structure conforms to the ordinance, approved plan and permit application statements.

  “no land building hereafter erected or altered in its use shall be use until such a certificate of occupancy has been granted.”

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Harriman city limits

  • Text hosted on the Roane County site is the December 1993 ordinance; amendments and a later codified version (MTAS lists a zoning ordinance number 1025) were not verified.

  “there is hereby adopted the harriman zoning ordinance, dated december 1993 and the accompanying map prepared by the planning commission.”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Zoning districts inside Harriman city

  • Districts also include C-1, C-2, I-1, I-2, O-S, F-1 and H-1 per the table of contents.

  “11-601 - r-h residential historic 27 11-602 - r-1 low density residential 27 11-603 - r-2 medium density residential 28”

• Building heightSpecified

  R-H, R-1 and R-2 residential districts inside Harriman city (first three columns of the height row)

  • Structures not intended for human occupancy (chimneys, spires, towers, etc.) are exempt per section 11-804.
  • Industrial districts allow 55 ft.

  maximum height residential districts: <= 35 feet (column mapping from flattened table)

  “maximum height of structures (feet) 35 35 35 35*** 35*** 35 55 55 35”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Single-wide mobile homes in the R-2 medium density residential district inside Harriman city

  • Mobile homes are excluded from single-family use in R-1.
  • Must meet setbacks, sit on a permanent enclosed foundation, and have the towing tongue removed.
  • Mobile home parks regulated by sections 11-308 and 11-311.

  “single-wide mobile homes provided all setback requirements are met, they are placed on a permanent and enclosed foundation, and the towing tongue is removed.”

• Permit processPartial

  Building permit process inside Harriman city

  • Application is made to the building official; site plan approval by planning commission for non-single-family uses.

  “application for a building per shall be made to the building official.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Harriman or Roane County directly.

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption inside Harriman city
• Building code adopted — Building code inside Harriman city
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size in Harriman city
• Lot coverage — Lot coverage in Harriman city
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping inside Harriman city

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.