Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Town of Morrison, Tennessee

Town of Morrison’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Construction of any structure, location of a mobile home or modular structure, or moving a structure inside Morrison town (zoning permit)

  • Permit must be obtained prior to grading, filling, demolition or moving a structure
  • Permit fee $25
  • Ordinance also refers to the zoning compliance officer issuing a building permit; building permits void six months after issue unless substantial progress made

  zoning permit fee: 25 USD

  “prior to the construction of any structure, the location of a mobile home or modular structure on any lot, or the moving of a structure or mobile home to another location in the town of morrison, a zoning permit shall be obtained from the zoning compliance officer.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Land, buildings or structures erected, moved or added to in use inside Morrison town

  • Issued by the zoning compliance officer after finding conformity with the zoning ordinance

  “no land or building or other structure or part thereof hereafter erected, moved, or added to in its use shall be used until the zoning compliance officer has found such land, structure, or part thereof to be in conformity with the provisions of the zoning ordinance and a certificate of occupancy issued.”

• Local zoningPresent

  All land inside Morrison town (Warren County) limits

  • Ordinance dated October 1996; later amendments not reviewed

  “an ordinance establishing comprehensive zoning regulations for the town of morrison, tennessee, and providing for the administration, enforcement and amendment therefore”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Morrison town zoning districts R-1, R-2, C-1, C-2, I-1, A-1

  • Official zoning map dated October 7, 1996 is kept in the city clerk's office

  “for the purpose of this ordinance, the town of morrison is hereby divided into zoning districts as follows: r-1 r-2 c-1 c-2 i-1 a-1 low density residential district high density residential district central commercial district general commercial district light industrial district agriculture district”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  R-1 Low Density Residential District, Morrison town

  • Pre-existing non-conforming lots of record may still be built on (Art. III Sec. 3)
  • R-2 also lists 15,000 sq. ft. for a single unit; A-1 lot size not read

  minimum lot area: >= 15000 sq ft (20,000 sq ft for two-family dwelling) · minimum lot width at setback line: >= 100 ft

  “minimum lot area 15,000 sq. ft. minimum lot area for two-family dwelling 20,000 sq. ft. minimum lot width at building setback line 100 ft.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  R-1 Low Density Residential District, principal building, Morrison town

  • Corner lot side yards equal the front yard for structures fronting the side street
  • Accessory buildings: not in required front or side yard, at least 5 ft from lot lines

  front yard minor street: >= 30 ft (40 ft secondary thoroughfare; 50 ft primary street) · rear yard: >= 30 ft · side yard: >= 20 ft (30 ft for three-story building)

  “minimum depth of rear yard 30 ft. minimum width of side yard on each side: a. b. 7. f. minor street 30 ft. secondary thoroughfare 40 ft. primary street 50 ft. one or two story building 20 ft. three story building 30 ft.”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  R-1 Low Density Residential District, Morrison town

  • R-2 allows 35%

  maximum building area: <= 25 percent of lot

  “the area occupied by all buildings, including accessory buildings, shall not exceed twenty-five percent (25%) of the total area of such lot.”

• Building heightSpecified

  All structures in Morrison town

  • Excludes spires, towers, domes not for human occupancy, flag poles, masts, silos or chimneys
  • R-1 accessory buildings limited to one story or 16 ft

  maximum height: <= 35 ft (or 3 stories)

  “for all structures the maximum building height shall be thirty-five (35) feet or three (3) stories. these provisions do not apply to spires, towers, domes not for human occupancy, flag poles, masts, silos or chimneys.”

• Driveway accessLimited

  Driveway access points to streets inside Morrison town

  • Max two access points per 200 ft frontage; lots under 100 ft wide one
  • Driveways at least 50 ft apart and 30 ft from an intersection right-of-way line
  • Curb cuts need street department approval, or TDOT permit on state highways

  max access width: <= 24 ft (36 ft in commercial/industrial zones with left turn lane)

  “a point of access for vehicles onto a street shall not exceed twenty-four (24) feet in width, except in commercial and industrial zones when a left turn lane is provided.”

• Permit feesPublished

  Zoning permit inside Morrison town

  • Fee set in 1996 ordinance; later fee amendments not reviewed

  zoning permit fee: 25 USD

  “there is hereby established a fee of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) for the permit due and payable at the time of issuance.”

• Permit processPartial

  Zoning permits inside Morrison town

  • Application to zoning compliance officer; development plan required (Art. VII Sec. 3.b, not quoted)
  • Denials stated in writing on the application; building permits void after six months without substantial progress

  “applications for the zoning permit are available at the morrison town hall.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption inside Morrison town
• Building code adopted — Building code inside Morrison town
• Inspections — Building inspections inside Morrison town
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size inside Morrison town
• Living in an RV — RV occupancy inside Morrison town

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.