Zoning, building permits and septic rules in McMinnville, Tennessee

McMinnville’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Construction, moving or addition of buildings and structures, including accessory structures, inside McMinnville city

  • Permit issued by the building inspector only after plans conform to the zoning code
  • Separate applications for building, plumbing and mechanical work

  “it shall be unlawful to commence the excavation for or the construction of any building or other structure, including accessory structures,”

• InspectionsRequired

  Permitted construction inside McMinnville city

  • 24-hour notice to schedule inspections
  • Inspections include erosion control, footings, foundation, framing, insulation, final

  “no work is to be concealed until inspected and permission given to proceed.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  New, moved, added-to or changed-use buildings inside McMinnville city

  • Building inspector must make final inspection within 7 days after notification that the building is ready

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

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside McMinnville city limits (Warren County, TN)

  • Code was recodified by Ordinance 1171 (1995) and amended through Ordinance 1849 (Oct. 25, 2022); official zoning map dated June 10, 2003

  “chapters 2 through 7 of title 14 of the mcminnville municipal code shall be known as the "official zoning code of the city of mcminnville, tennessee"”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  All districts inside McMinnville city

  • Districts also include R-5, C-1 to C-3, I-1, I-2, PUD, PRD, PCD, H-1, A-1 and R-6

  “r-1 low density residential district r-2 medium density residential district r-3 high density residential district r-4 residential multi-use district”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  R-1 Low Density Residential District inside McMinnville city

  • A-1 agricultural and other districts not yet extracted

  minimum lot area: >= 15000 sq ft · minimum lot width at building line: >= 75 ft

  “14-501.5a minimum lot area 15,000 sq. ft. 14-501.5b minimum lot width at building line 75 ft.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  R-1 Low Density Residential District inside McMinnville city (principal building)

  • Corner lot street side yard 40 ft; three-story interior side yard 20 ft; front yard 47.5 ft on parts of North Chancery Street unless right-of-way dedicated
  • A-1 agricultural district not yet extracted

  front yard: >= 40 ft · rear yard: >= 50 ft · interior side yard (1-2 story): >= 15 ft

  “14-501.5c minimum depth of front yard 40 ft. 14-501.5d minimum depth of rear yard 50 ft. 14-501.5e minimum interior side yard: 1. one or two story building 15 ft.”

• Manufactured homesProhibited

  R-1 Low Density Residential District inside McMinnville city

  • Applies to the R-1 district only; other districts and the mobile home park rules in Sec. 14-602.2 were not reviewed

  “14-501.4 uses prohibited 14-501.4a mobile homes; two-family dwellings; and multi-family dwellings.”

• Permit processPublished

  Building permit applications inside McMinnville city

  • Separate applications for building, plumbing and mechanical
  • Residential: two copies of plot plan and two sets of building plans
  • Commercial often needs architect's stamp

  “permit applications are available at city hall located at 101 east main street or online”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builders inside McMinnville city
• Building code adopted — Building codes inside McMinnville city
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwelling size inside McMinnville city
• Lot coverage — Lot coverage inside McMinnville city
• Building height — Building height inside McMinnville 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.