Bolthole Index

Rutherford County, Tennessee

Building permits, zoning and septic rules in Murfreesboro, Tennessee

For a new home in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, apply for a residential building permit through the city Permit Center.1 Murfreesboro administers city zoning, while TDEC handles on-site septic permits where public sewer is not used.23 For land outside city limits, use the Rutherford County guide: county zoning authority applies outside municipalities.4

At a glance

Building permits
City Permit Center; allow 2 weeks for residential application processing.1
Zoning
City zoning districts and Land Use Chart determine permitted land uses.25
Septic permits
TDEC approval required before septic installation or repair.36
Lot size
RS-10 requires at least 10,000 square feet per dwelling unit; other district requirements differ.7
Occupancy approval
Building-permit applications also apply for a certificate of occupancy; final inspection required.8
Farm buildings
Tennessee’s county agricultural zoning exemption does not apply to municipalities.9

Who to call

Building permits

Murfreesboro Building and Codes Department

City construction plan review, building inspections and certificates of occupancy.

615-893-3750

111 West Vine Street Murfreesboro, TN 37130

Planning & zoning

Murfreesboro Planning and Zoning Department

City land-use information and development-plan review.

615-893-6441

111 W. Vine St. Murfreesboro , TN 37130

Building permits

Murfreesboro Permit Center

Residential building permit applications and fee notification.

Septic permits

TDEC Division of Water Resources

State septic-system permitting; county page supplies the TDEC contact.

(615) 687-7000

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 11, 2026.

Off-grid gear

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

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Do you need a building permit in Murfreesboro, TN?

Murfreesboro’s Permit Center provides residential building permit applications for new homes, and residential applications may be submitted by email or in person at City Hall.1 Allow 2 weeks for processing; the Permit Center says approved applicants receive notification of building permit fees and payment options.110

Murfreesboro has adopted construction codes, including the 2024 International Residential Code and the 2023 National Electrical Code.11 City Building and Codes reviews plans, performs construction inspections and issues certificates of occupancy, so plan review is the beginning of the approval process rather than the final permission to move in.12

Who handles building permits and zoning in Murfreesboro?

Murfreesboro Building and Codes handles residential and commercial construction review, inspections and certificates of occupancy; call 615-893-3750 or visit 111 West Vine Street Murfreesboro, TN 37130.13 Murfreesboro Planning and Zoning assists with land-use questions and reviews development plans for compliance with city ordinances; call 615-893-6441.14

Use city Planning for an address inside Murfreesboro, rather than treating Rutherford County’s unincorporated zoning rules as city rules.24 Building and zoning approval do not replace the TDEC septic construction permit needed when installing or repairing an on-site septic system.6

Does Murfreesboro have zoning, lot-size rules and farm exemptions?

Murfreesboro has city zoning, and the city directs property owners to its GIS zoning layers and Land Use Chart to identify a parcel’s district and allowed uses.25 In Murfreesboro’s RS-10 Single-Family Residential District, the minimum lot area is 10,000 square feet per dwelling unit; Chart 2 and other applicable provisions may add lot and yard requirements.7 Ask city Planning to review the district and proposed layout before committing to a house plan.14

Tennessee’s agricultural zoning exemption applies to counties and has no application to municipalities, so that exemption does not establish an exemption for a farm building inside Murfreesboro.9 Murfreesboro also reviews subdivision plats and construction plans through its Planning and Zoning Department.15

How do septic permits work inside Murfreesboro?

TDEC administers septic permitting for Murfreesboro property using on-site sewage disposal rather than public sewer.3 Obtain the septic construction permit before installation or repair; the conventional septic permit should be obtained before dirt work or building-pad construction begins.6 The applicant or installer must notify TDEC after installation so the system can be inspected and approved.16

Rutherford County’s septic contact page directs septic questions to TDEC at (615) 687-7000.17 Across Rutherford County, 16.2% of soils rate “not limited” for conventional septic drain fields; that countywide rating calls for a parcel-specific evaluation, rather than proving a Murfreesboro lot can or cannot support septic.18

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Murfreesboro?

We could not confirm permission for private-land RV occupancy or tiny-home occupancy in Murfreesboro; ask city Planning to evaluate the proposed use in the parcel’s zoning district.14 Murfreesboro’s prohibition on camping on specified public property does not answer whether an RV may be occupied on private land.19

For a structure requiring a city building permit, the permit application also serves as the certificate-of-occupancy application, and final inspection is required.8 A temporary certificate may cover a safe, habitable, conforming temporary or incomplete structure for no more than 6 months; that provision does not itself authorize RV living.8

What are the steps to build a home in Murfreesboro?

  1. Identify the parcel’s city zoning district and review the Land Use Chart with Murfreesboro Planning before choosing the layout.514
  2. If using septic, obtain TDEC approval before dirt work or building-pad construction.6
  3. Submit the residential building permit application to the city by email or in person and allow 2 weeks for processing.1
  4. Complete city construction inspections and obtain occupancy approval after final inspection; notify TDEC separately when the septic installation is ready for approval.12816

For mapped flood-hazard land inside Murfreesboro, contact the city floodplain administrator before development; floodplain requirements are locally managed and may require review before construction, grading or fill.20

Watch-outs

  • Murfreesboro building permits may be subject to Rutherford County Schools Facilities Tax and city impact fees; ask the Permit Center about the charges for your project.10
  • We could not confirm Murfreesboro’s owner-builder eligibility terms; ask Building and Codes before applying as your own contractor.13
  • We could not confirm the city’s parcel-specific public-water or sewer availability requirements; ask city Planning which utility review your proposed development needs.14

Sources

  1. Permit Center (Murfreesboro), quoted and re-checked
  2. Zoning Ordinance_City of Murfreesboro (Murfreesboro), quoted and re-checked
  3. Septic System Construction Permit (Murfreesboro), quoted and re-checked
  4. Tennessee Attorney General Opinion No. 10-108 (Tennessee statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  5. Zoning Inquiries (Murfreesboro), quoted and re-checked
  6. Septic System Construction Permit (Murfreesboro), quoted and re-checked
  7. Appendix A Zoning District Standards (Murfreesboro), quoted and re-checked
  8. Appendix A Zoning, Section 5 (Murfreesboro), quoted and re-checked
  9. Exemption from County Zoning Regulation for Buildings on Land Used for Agriculture, Opinion No. 22-07 (Tennessee statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  10. Murfreesboro Permit Center (murfreesborotn.gov)
  11. Construction Codes (Murfreesboro), quoted and re-checked
  12. Building and Codes (Murfreesboro), quoted and re-checked
  13. Murfreesboro Building and Codes Department (murfreesborotn.gov)
  14. Murfreesboro Planning and Zoning Department (murfreesborotn.gov)
  15. Planning and Zoning Forms and Documents (Murfreesboro), quoted and re-checked
  16. Septic System Construction Permit (Murfreesboro), quoted and re-checked
  17. TDEC Division of Water Resources (solidwaste.rutherfordcountytn.gov)
  18. Share of soils USDA rates "not limited" for a conventional septic drain field (SSURGO). A strict rating: the median county is about 6% and a tenth of counties are 0%, so a low figure means most lots need a site evaluation or an engineered system, not that septic is impossible. Cite it only with that caveat: Bolthole Index county data
  19. Murfreesboro City Code § 21-8 (Murfreesboro), quoted and re-checked
  20. Statewide Floodplain Administrator Directory (Tennessee statewide rule), quoted and re-checked

Written October 11, 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 Murfreesboro

Murfreesboro’s own rules

  • Building code adoptedAdopted

    Construction inside Murfreesboro city limits.

    • The City lists the 2024 International Residential, Building, Plumbing, Mechanical, Fuel Gas, Property Maintenance, Fire, Swimming Pool and Existing Building Codes; the 2018 Energy Conservation Code; the 2023 National Electrical Code; and ICC A117.1-2017.
    “The City of Murfreesboro has adopted several of the I-Codes, the National Electrical Code and the ANSI A117.1 Accessibility Code to help establish the minimum provisions that will adequately protect public health, safety and welfare in our jurisdiction.”
  • InspectionsRequired

    Residential and commercial construction inside Murfreesboro city limits.

    • The City performs on-site inspections during construction; the exact inspection sequence depends on project type and adopted code.
    “The department oversees all residential and commercial construction, beginning with the review of plans, through on-site inspections, and the issuance of a certificate of occupancy for the safe use and habitation of the structure.”
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    Structures requiring a building permit inside Murfreesboro city limits.

    • Every building-permit application is deemed an application for a certificate of occupancy.
    • A final inspection is required.
    • A temporary certificate may be issued for a safe, habitable, conforming temporary or incomplete structure for no more than six months.

    temporary certificate maximum duration: 6 months

    “Every application for a building permit shall be deemed to be an application for a certificate of occupancy.”
  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside Murfreesboro city limits.

    • The City administers zoning through Appendix A, the Zoning Ordinance.
    “When you zoom into your property you will see a zoning district.”
  • Zoning districtsPublished

    Zoning districts inside Murfreesboro city limits.

    • The City directs users to GIS zoning layers and its Land Use Chart.
    • The official zoning ordinance lists districts including RS-15, RS-12, RS-10, RS-8, RS-6, RS-4, RD, RM-12, RM-16, RS-A, R-MO, OG-R, OG, CL, CF-14, CH, MU, CBD, HI, GI, LI, and planned or overlay districts.
    “You can see what you can put in that zone by visiting our Land Use Chart.”
  • Camping on your landLimited

    Camping and storage of personal property on specified public property inside Murfreesboro city limits.

    • The prohibition applies to public sidewalks, City parking garage, City parking lot, City park except where specifically authorized, City Greenway trail, Cannonsburgh, Civic Plaza, and courthouse yard.
    • This claim does not resolve camping on private land.
    “It shall be unlawful for any person to camp and store personal property on public sidewalks, City parking garage, City parking lot, City park (except where specifically authorized), City Greenway trail, Cannonsburgh, Civic Plaza, or courthouse yard.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision plats and related development inside Murfreesboro city limits.

    • Subdivision plat and construction-plan review procedures apply through the City's Planning and Zoning Department.
    • Specific plat standards were not extracted here.
    “Various forms needed for petitioning for annexation, applying for rezoning and submitting for site plan, subdivision plat and construction plan review.”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    City permit applications inside Murfreesboro city limits.

    • Residential applications may be submitted by email or in person at City Hall.
    • The City states to allow two weeks for processing after submission.
    • The Project Portal supports applications, payments, inspection scheduling, permit searches, and communication with City staff.

    stated residential processing time: 2 weeks

    “Submit all residential building permit applications via email or apply in-person at Murfreesboro City Hall, 111 W. Vine Street Murfreesboro, TN. Please allow 2 weeks for processing.”

Rules another office applies inside Murfreesboro

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

  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    RS-10 Single-Family Residential District inside Murfreesboro city limits.

    • Other uses may be subject to site-plan review or special-permit requirements.
    • Chart 2 and other applicable zoning provisions may impose additional lot and yard requirements.

    minimum lot area per dwelling unit: 10000 square feet

    “This district is intended to permit the development and continued maintenance of single-family residential areas characterized by relatively low overall density with lots of at least ten thousand square feet per dwelling unit.”
  • Who permits septicState (with conditions)

    On-site subsurface sewage disposal systems serving property inside Murfreesboro city limits where public sewer is not used.

    • TDEC administers the state SSDS permit program; a public-sewer connection may eliminate the need for a septic system.
    “Any individual or property owner who desires to have a subsurface sewage disposal (septic) system installed on their property or requiring repair to an existing faulty system must get a Septic System Construction Permit.”
  • Septic permitRequired

    Installation or repair of a septic system inside Murfreesboro city limits.

    • The permit must be obtained before installation or repair.
    • The official TDEC page states that a conventional septic permit should be obtained before starting dirt work or construction of any building including the building pad.
    “A Conventional Septic System Permit is required for the installation of a conventional septic system (or approved substitute product) to serve a residence, retail or commercial building.”
  • Septic inspectionRequired

    Permitted SSDS installations inside Murfreesboro city limits.

    • The installer or applicant must notify the Division when installation is complete so it can be inspected and approved.
    “The applicant or SSDS installer must notify the Division when a system has been installed so that it can be inspected and approved.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder work inside Murfreesboro city limits.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Single-family residential districts inside Murfreesboro city limits.
  • Lot coverage — Lots inside Murfreesboro city limits.
  • Building height — Buildings inside Murfreesboro city limits.
  • Living in an RV — Private-land recreational-vehicle occupancy inside Murfreesboro city limits.
9 more unanswered
  • Tiny homes
  • Manufactured homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Driveway access
  • Short-term rentals

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 Murfreesboro publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Rutherford County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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