Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Town of Pittman Center, Tennessee

Town of Pittman Center’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Construction, moving, alteration, repair and land disturbance inside Pittman Center town

  • Applies when cost exceeds $100
  • Routine maintenance items as defined in section 11-204 excepted
  • Permit void after six months unless substantial progress made
  • Permit must be displayed at the site

  cost threshold: > 100 USD (routine maintenance)

  “a building permit shall be required for the following activities when the cost of such activities exceeds $100 with the exception of routine maintenance items as defined in chapter 2, section 11-204.”

• InspectionsRequired

  Buildings inside Pittman Center town

  • Inspections are by the town building official; the ordinance speaks of inspections to ensure zoning compliance.

  “and conduct inspections as prescribed by this ordinance and other such inspections as are necessary to insure compliance with this ordinance.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Land and buildings erected, moved or changed in use inside Pittman Center town

  • Building official must make a final inspection within three days after notification that the building is ready
  • Certificate certifies conformity with the zoning ordinance

  “no land or building or other structure or part thereof hereafter erected, moved, or altered in its use shall be used until the building official shall have issued a certificate of occupancy”

• Local zoningPresent

  All land inside Pittman Center town limits (Sevier County, TN)

  • Administered by the town's building official; Board of Zoning Appeals handles variances.

  “for the purpose of this ordinance, the city of pittman center, tennessee, is hereby divided into zoning districts as follows:”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Zoning districts inside Pittman Center town

  • Districts: RLD, R-1, R-2, TR, C-1, C-2, C-3, A-1, OR, SLPZ, SLPOZ, CSFZ, F-1 per the ordinance's table of contents.

  “rld, low density single family resi. dist. rld r-1, single family residential dist. r-1 r-2, planned residential district r-2 tr, tourist district tr c-1, neighborhood commercial dist. c-1 c-2, general highway commercial dist. c-2 c-3, craft commercial dist. c-3 a-1, agricultural district a-1 or, open space/recreational district or slpz, scenic landscape preservation zone slpz slpoz, scenic landscape preservation overlay slpoz zone csfz critical slope floating zone csfz f-1, flood hazard overlay district f-1”

• Living in an RVTemporary only (with conditions)

  RVs and motor homes on otherwise vacant lots in the R-1 district inside Pittman Center town (similar text appears in another district's use list)

  • No more than 14 consecutive days, each 14-day term separated by at least 14 consecutive days
  • RVs must have self-contained toilets emptied at a state-approved disposal facility outside the town
  • Board of Zoning Appeals may grant extensions in special circumstances such as building your own home

  max days per 12 months: <= 56 days (8 weeks) (BZA extension) · max consecutive days: <= 14 days (BZA extension)

  “camping, tents, motor homes, and recreational vehicles on otherwise vacant lots provided (ordinance 231, 9-17-2009): (1) no camping, tent, motor home, or recreational vehicle shall be located on any lot more than eight (8) weeks within any twelve (12) month period.”

• Camping on your landLimited

  Camping and tents on otherwise vacant lots in the R-1 district inside Pittman Center town

  • Max 8 weeks in any 12 months and 14 consecutive days
  • Tent campers must provide state-approved port-a-potties
  • BZA may extend in special circumstances

  “no camping, tent, motor home, or recreational vehicle shall be located on any lot more than fourteen (14) consecutive days.”

• Accessory dwellingsLimited

  Guest houses / accessory dwelling units in residential zones inside Pittman Center town

  • Only by the principal dwelling's occupants, family or nonpaying guests; no rental, short or long term; deed restriction recorded
  • One per lot; lot at least 40,000 sq ft; rear yard only
  • Floor area max 750 sq ft; no kitchen, cooking or wet bar
  • Existing owner-occupied single family dwelling required; existing accessory structures repurposed

  max floor area: <= 750 sq ft · min lot size for guest house: >= 40000 sq ft

  “the floor area of a guest house shall not exceed 750 square feet.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Town of Pittman Center or Sevier County directly.

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builders inside Pittman Center town
• Building code adopted — Building codes inside Pittman Center town
• Minimum dwelling size — Main single-family districts (RLD, R-1) and A-1
• Minimum lot size — RLD, R-1 and A-1 districts
• Setbacks — RLD, R-1 and A-1 districts

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.