Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Dover, Tennessee

Dover’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Excavation, construction, moving, alteration, filling or change of use inside Dover city

  • Permit issued by the building inspector
  • Work begun without a permit costs double the permit fee
  • No permit issued except in conformity with the zoning ordinance unless the board of zoning appeals orders otherwise

  “it shall be unlawful to commence the excavation of land or the construction of any building or other structure, including accessory structures, to commence the moving or alteration of any structure, including expansion, including accessory structures, to use a building or structure or to change the use of a building or structure, or to commence the filling of land without a permit therefore, issued by the building inspector.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Building construction inside Dover city

  • The page does not name which code editions are adopted; those were not located.

  “the board of mayor and alderman adopt building codes for the citizens to help provide guidance on projects throughout the town and for the safety of our citizens.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Land or buildings erected, moved or altered in use inside Dover city

  • Building inspector makes a final inspection within three days of notification that the building is ready
  • Certificate issued only if the building conforms to the zoning ordinance

  final inspection after notification: <= 3 days

  “within three (3) days after notification that a building or premises or a part thereof is ready for occupancy of use, it shall be the duty of the building inspector to make a final inspection thereof”

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Dover city limits

  • Ordinance #173-88 adopted March 14, 1988; last amended June 12, 2023 per the cover page.

  “to provide for the establishment of districts within the corporate limits of the town of dover, tennessee”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Zoning districts inside Dover city

  • Districts include R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, MHP and a floodplain overlay

  “in the r-1, low density residential district, the following uses, and their accessory uses may be permitted as special exceptions”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  R-1 low density residential district inside Dover city

  • Differs with and without public sewer
  • Subject to Article VI exceptions
  • R-2 and other districts have different limits

  min lot area with public sewer: >= 20000 sq ft · min lot area without public sewer: >= 25000 sq ft · lot width with public sewer: >= 100 ft · lot width without public sewer: >= 150 ft

  “with public sewer 20,000 sq. ft. 20,000 sq. ft. 100 ft without public sewer 25,000 sq. ft. 25,000 sq. ft. 150 ft.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  R-1 low density residential district inside Dover city

  • Except as provided in Article VI
  • Accessory buildings must sit in the rear yard and not closer than 10 ft to any lot line

  front yard: >= 40 ft · side yard: >= 15 ft · rear yard: >= 25 ft

  “2. minimum yard requirements front 40 ft. side 15 ft. rear 25 ft.”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  R-1 low density residential district inside Dover city

  • Includes accessory buildings
  • R-2 also 35 percent

  max building coverage: <= 35 percent

  “the area occupied by all buildings including accessory buildings may not exceed thirty-five (35) percent of the total area of such lot or parcel.”

• Building heightSpecified

  R-1 low density residential district inside Dover city

  • Except as provided in Article VI, section 6.050
  • R-2 also 35 ft

  max building height: <= 35 ft (Sec. 6.050 exceptions)

  “no building shall exceed thirty-five (35) feet in height, except as provided in article vi, section 6.050.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  R-1 low density residential district inside Dover city

  • Mobile homes and mobile home parks are prohibited in R-1
  • Prefabricated dwellings (excluding mobile homes) are permitted
  • A separate MHP mobile home park district exists (Ord. 343-08) and was not read

  “d. uses prohibited. mobile homes, mobile home parks, billboards, and similar advertising structures, uses not specifically permitted”

• Short-term rentalsLimited

  R-1 low density residential district inside Dover city

  • Allowed only as a special exception after review under Art. VII, Sec. 7.060
  • Section 4.110 standards not read

  “in the r-1, low density residential district, the following uses, and their accessory uses may be permitted as special exceptions after review and approval in accordance with article vii, section 7.060.”

• Permit processPartial

  Building permit applications inside Dover city

  • Application in writing to the building inspector on provided forms
  • Applications accepted only from persons with legal authority to act under the permit

  “application for a building permit shall be made in writing to the building inspector on forms provided for that purpose. applications for building permits will be accepted only from persons having legal authority to take action in accordance with the permit.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builders inside Dover city
• Inspections — Building inspections inside Dover city
• Minimum dwelling size — R-1 minimum dwelling floor area inside Dover city
• Living in an RV — RV occupancy inside Dover city
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping inside Dover 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.