Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Lakeland, Tennessee

Lakeland’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent

  Land use inside Lakeland city limits

  • The zoning ordinance and zoning map are published as separate documents of record with the city recorder, not in the code itself.

  “land use within the city of lakeland shall be governed by the city of lakeland zoning ordinance and any amendments thereto.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Septic tank systems, privies and other sewage disposal facilities inside Lakeland city

  • Applies to facilities requiring the approval of the health officer under chapter 1 of title 18.
  • Approval of design and location and the permit must be obtained before construction begins.
  • Section 18-103 bars other disposal methods where an accessible sewer exists.

  “any person, firm, or corporation proposing to construct a septic tank system, privy, or other sewage disposal facility, requiring the approval of the health officer under this chapter, shall before the initiation of construction obtain the approval of the health officer for the design and location of the system and secure a permit from the health officer for such system.”

• Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

  Premises inside Lakeland city with an accessible public or private sewer

  • Applies where an accessible sewer exists and water under pressure is available.
  • Connection must comply with the requirements of the official responsible for the sewerage system.
  • 'Accessible sewer' is defined in 18-101; a 200-foot distance from a property boundary was seen but not fully read.

  “wherever an accessible sewer exists and water under pressure is available, approved plumbing facilities shall be provided and the wastes from such facilities shall be discharged through a connection to said sewer made in compliance with the requirements of the official responsible for the private or public sewerage system.”

Rules another office applies inside Lakeland

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

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Building, plumbing, electrical, mechanical, gas and housing codes inside Lakeland city; the Shelby County codes apply and are enforced by Shelby County personnel

  • The codes are those in effect in Shelby County, not a separate Lakeland code.

  “the building, plumbing, electrical, mechanical, gas, and housing codes in effect in shelby county shall also be effective within the corporate limits and shall be enforced by shelby county personnel.”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Building permits inside Lakeland city
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption inside Lakeland city
• Inspections — Building inspections inside Lakeland city
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy inside Lakeland city
• Zoning districts — Zoning districts inside Lakeland 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.