Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

Pigeon Forge’s own rules

• Owner-builder exemptionConditional

  Owners seeking a building permit without a licensed contractor inside Pigeon Forge city

  • Only if the owner falls within the exceptions in Tenn. Code Ann. 13-7-211(e)(2).
  • Workers' compensation evidence or affidavit of exemption required before permit issuance.

  “all owners and/or contractors must provide evidence of workman's compensation coverage, or an affidavit of exemption as required by tennessee code annotated, 13-7-211 (a), prior to the permit being issued. nothing in this section shall prohibit an owner from securing a permit, without a licensed contractor, provided they fall within the exceptions as defined by tennessee code annotated, 13-7-211 (e) (2).”

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  One- and two-family dwellings not used as overnight rentals, and buildings of public accommodation, inside Pigeon Forge city

  • Code text is the 2015 edition as printed in a change dated June 26, 2017; later updates not checked.
  • Local amendments in § 12-102; electrical code is the state fire marshal's edition.

  residential code: IRC 2015 (one- and two-family dwellings not used as overnight rentals) · building code: IBC 2015 (buildings of public accommodation)

  “the international residential code, 2015 edition, as prepared and adopted by the international code council, and amended by this section for all one- and twofamily dwellings not used as overnight rental units, and the international building code, 2015 edition for all buildings of public accommodation, as prepared and adopted by the international code council, is hereby adopted and incorporated by reference as a part of this code”

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Pigeon Forge city limits

  • The zoning ordinance itself is a separate document on file with the city recorder; its text was not retrieved (city site PDF returned 404).

  “land use within the city of pigeon forge shall be governed by ordinance number, titled "zoning ordinance, pigeon forge, tennessee," and any amendments thereto.”

• Living in an RVLimited

  Trailers (structures for habitation on wheels, including on foundations) and portable buildings used for residing inside Pigeon Forge city

  • Unlawful outside a permitted trailer camp, which needs a city manager permit and must be in an industrial and/or commercial zone.
  • Exceptions: prefabricated dwellings or structure kits approved by the standard building code compliance listing; temporary construction-site offices; customary accessory storage buildings.
  • Trailer camp lots at least 800 sq ft; trailers at least 10 ft apart.
  • Whether the term covers modern RVs was not confirmed.

  trailer camp lot area: >= 800 square feet

  “it shall be unlawful and a misdemeanor for any person to park, locate, or occupy any trailer or portable building, for the purpose of advertising, residing, or transacting business therein, on any street, lot, or parcel of land within the city outside a duly permitted trailer camp as hereafter provided.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Pigeon Forge or Sevier County directly.

• Building permit — Construction inside Pigeon Forge city
• Inspections — Construction inside Pigeon Forge city
• Certificate of occupancy — New buildings inside Pigeon Forge city
• Zoning districts — Zoning districts inside Pigeon Forge city
• Minimum dwelling size — Residential districts inside Pigeon Forge 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.