Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Adams, Tennessee

Adams’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Additions and construction inside Adams city limits

  • Exempt: one-story detached accessory structures up to 200 sq ft (page lists 120 sq ft in code text), fences up to 7 ft, retaining walls up to 4 ft, sidewalks, driveways, finish work
  • Separate state permits for electrical and septic/sewer
  • Turnaround may be at least 30 days

  “building permit applications are required for any additions to property within the corporate limits of adams, tn, to include swimming pools, storage buildings, fences, etc.”

• Owner-builder exemptionConditional

  Homeowners building inside Adams city limits

  • Residential structure not open to the public or for sale, lease or rent
  • One homeowner permit every two years
  • Homeowner still needs the city building permit

  “a homeowner of a residential property may perform work themselves, without a contractor's license, if the residential structure is not open to the public; or for sale, lease or rent.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  Construction inside Adams city limits

  • Energy code 2021 also required

  building code edition: 2021 International Building Codes

  “provide legible detailed construction drawings (for the office to keep) for all structures in compliance with the 2021 international building codes and the 2021 energy codes.”

• InspectionsRequired

  Permitted construction inside Adams city limits

  • Reinspection fee $75 if inspections fail
  • Manufactured homes: city inspects only foundation, building final and CO; state commerce department does the rest

  reinspection fee: 75 USD

  “reinspection fees are $75 - property owner is responsible for this if any inspections fail”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Permitted construction inside Adams city limits

  • Listed as final step of the permit inspection sequence

  “- plumbing final - mechanical final - building final - issuance of certificate of occupancy”

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Adams city limits

  • Planning commission also serves as board of zoning appeals
  • Ordinance text itself not opened; the city's PDF could not be read

  “adams zoning & subdivision regulations: municipal zoning ordinance pdf - adopted november 14th 2024”

• Mandatory utility hookupWater (with conditions)

  New buildings inside Adams city limits; permit application requires water tap or meter receipt from West Robertson Water Authority

  • Septic permit or sewer tap receipt also required
  • Distance/availability rule not found

  “water tap or meter receipt from the water provider. west robertson water authority - 608 keysburg rd, adams, tn 37010 - 615-696-0667”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Platting and subdivision inside Adams city limits via planning commission

  • Fees: preliminary plat $500 plus $50/lot; final plat $500 plus $50/lot; resubdivision $350 plus $50/affected lot
  • Subdivision regulation text not opened

  preliminary plat filing fee: 500 USD (plus $50 per lot)

  “1.preliminary plat - plat approval application pdf $500.00 filing fee plus $50.00/per lot”

• Driveway accessRequired

  New building permit applications inside Adams city limits

  • Issued by TDOT for state highways, county highway department for county roads, or Adams city hall for city roads

  “4. driveway permit state of tennessee department of transportation (highway 41 north & highway 76 w & old cedar hill road)”

• Permit processPublished

  Building permits inside Adams city limits

  • Zoning compliance form first, then septic/sewer, water tap, driveway permit, E911 address, deed, survey, drawings, electrical permit, county adequate facility tax receipt

  “please obtain permits in the order as follows: 1. free - zoning compliance application form - attached”

Rules another office applies inside Adams

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

• Who permits septicState

  Septic systems inside Adams city limits; the City of Adams permit page sends applicants to the state (TDEC) for the septic permit

  “sperate permits are required from state of tennessee for electrical and septic/sewer permits.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Septic systems inside Adams city limits, per the City of Adams permit page

  • Alternative: sewer tap receipt

  “sperate permits are required from state of tennessee for electrical and septic/sewer permits.”

Still unanswered

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

• Zoning districts — Inside Adams city limits
• Minimum dwelling size — Inside Adams city limits
• Minimum lot size — Inside Adams city limits
• Setbacks — Inside Adams city limits
• Lot coverage — Inside Adams city 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.