Building permits, zoning and septic rules in Sevier County, Tennessee

Yes. Sevier County requires a building permit for new construction, accessory structures, remodels and additions; environmental-health approval, zoning compliance, a floor plan and contractor information are required before issuance¹. New residential building-permit applications use MyGovernmentOnline¹. The county lists the 2024 residential, building, plumbing, mechanical, fire, fuel-gas, swimming-pool, existing-building and life-safety codes, along with the 2018 energy code and 2010 accessibility standards¹. Inspections commonly include footings, under-slab plumbing, framing and plumbing rough-ins, energy systems and a final, but the permit controls which inspections apply¹. A Tennessee owner may build one residence for personal use once every two years if it will not be sold, leased or rented; hired work of $25,000 or more is not exempt from contractor licensing⁶.

The Sevier County Planning & Zoning Department is the first stop for residential building permits and zoning questions. The office is at 227 Cedar Street, Sevierville, TN 37862; call 865-453-3882 or email PZ@seviercountytn.org⁸. New residential building-permit applications use MyGovernmentOnline¹. Planning Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals submissions must arrive at least 21 days before the scheduled meeting⁸. Ask the department to identify the parcel's zoning district, overlays, required plans, fees and inspection path before paying for final drawings. Sevier County publishes building-fee schedules, but a current residential amount could not be confirmed; request a project-specific total from the department⁴.

Sevier County administers zoning in its county planning jurisdiction, while incorporated municipalities may administer separate zoning and land-use processes^2,3. Only 22.3% of county land has a slope of 15% or less, and the county publishes Critical Slope and Hillside Overlay maps, so a mountain parcel may require overlay review^7,8. A concept plan is required for subdivision of property in the Planning Region, and a design plan is reviewed when required⁸. We could not confirm parcel-level setbacks, lot coverage, height limits or minimum lot size; ask Planning & Zoning for the district rules and overlay map. Tennessee limits county zoning of a farm structure incidental to an agricultural enterprise, with exceptions near certain highways, airports and parks and in the one-hundred-year floodplain⁹.

Sevier County Environmental Health handles septic permits because Sevier is a Tennessee contract county, while state rules still govern the program^4,10. Obtain the septic permit before dirt work or construction, including the building pad; alternative systems require an extra-high-intensity soils map from a Tennessee-licensed soils consultant¹¹. The county septic permit costs $300, and applications require complete information and payment before processing begins^5,12. The completed system must receive a final inspection before it is covered¹¹. A failed initial final inspection carries a $100 re-inspection fee⁴. Only 6.9% of county soils rate free of severe limits for a conventional drain field, so establish the approved system area before fixing the house location⁷.

Sevier County Environmental Health lists 1,200 square feet for a one-bedroom home and 1,500 square feet for a two-bedroom home in its septic and site-evaluation materials; that does not establish a general zoning minimum for every dwelling⁴. We could not confirm a county rule for long-term RV occupancy, temporary camping or tiny-home occupancy, so ask Planning & Zoning how the parcel's district treats the proposed unit and use⁸. A short-term overnight rental in unincorporated Sevier County requires a permit and an on-site inspection¹³. County materials apply the residential code's certificate-of-occupancy rule to these rentals, and the approved permit, inspections and certificate control the occupancy load¹⁴.

1. Ask Planning & Zoning to confirm whether the parcel is in the county planning jurisdiction and identify its district, overlays and required plans^2,8.
2. Apply to Environmental Health for septic approval before dirt work or construction on a septic-served site¹¹.
3. Fix the approved septic area, bedroom count and house location before finalizing the plan; Environmental Health lists 1,200 square feet for one bedroom and 1,500 square feet for two bedrooms⁴.
4. Submit the building-permit application with environmental-health approval, zoning compliance, a floor plan and contractor information¹.
5. Follow the inspection list on the permit; Sevier County has 10 days to review reports under the third-party inspection path¹⁵.
6. Keep the septic system uncovered until final inspection and approval¹¹.
7. Obtain a TDOT entrance permit before work on a driveway within state highway right-of-way¹⁶.

Confirm a usable house site and septic area: only 6.9% of Sevier County soils rate free of severe conventional-drain-field limits, while only 22.3% of county land has a slope of 15% or less⁷. Environmental Health evaluates new subdivisions and changes to existing developments, charging $75 per lot plus $75 per existing home⁴. Published Environmental Health charges also include septic, repair, inspection-letter and water-sample fees⁴. Check legal road access and whether a state-highway entrance permit applies¹⁶. Also verify water source, floodplain status and private-well requirements: a county well-water-test application exists, but we could not confirm a well-construction permit rule⁴.