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

Town of Jonesborough’s own rules

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  Construction inside Jonesborough town

  • 2012 edition of IBC adopted, with IRC, fuel gas, mechanical, existing building, energy, ADA and fire codes
  • Electrical code is governed and enforced by the State of Tennessee
  • Footnote: the town elects exemption from statewide building construction safety standards for one- and two-family dwellings (Ord. 2017-06, Dec. 2017)

  IBC edition: 2012 (with revisions and modifications)

  “the international building code3 - 2012 edition with revisions along with any modifications is hereby adopted and incorporated by reference as a part of this code, and is hereinafter referred to as the building code.”

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside the Jonesborough town limits (Washington County, TN)

  • Code host is MTAS; the town site lists the same code but later ordinances may not be codified.

  “this chapter shall be known as the "zoning ordinance of the town of jonesborough, tennessee,"”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts inside Jonesborough town

  • Also H-1, H-2 overlay, B-1 to B-6 business, M-1 and M-2 districts per the chapter contents

  “11-513. r-1 (low density) residential district. 11-514. r-1a (low density) residential district. 11-514a. r-1b (low density) residential district. 11-515. r-2 (medium density) residential district. 11-516. r-3 (high density) residential district.”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  R-1 (low density) residential district, Jonesborough town

  • R-1A: 12,000 sq ft for single-family residences on sanitary sewers
  • Table columns: lot area, area per additional family, lot width, front/side/rear yards, height

  minimum lot area: >= 15000 sq ft (R-1A on sewer 12,000) · additional family area: 7500 sq ft · lot width: >= 80 ft (asterisk note not reviewed)

  “r-1 15,000 7,500 80 ft.* 30 ft. 15 ft. 25 ft. 35 ft.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — R-2 (medium density) residential district, Jonesborough town

    “r-2 12,000 4,500 50 ft.* 30 ft. 8 ft. per story 20 ft. 35 ft.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  R-1 (low density) residential district, Jonesborough town

  • R-1A side yard reduced to 10 ft for single-family on sanitary sewers

  front yard: >= 30 ft · side yard (each side): >= 15 ft (R-1A 10 ft) · rear yard: >= 25 ft

  “r-1 15,000 7,500 80 ft.* 30 ft. 15 ft. 25 ft. 35 ft.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — R-2 (medium density) residential district, Jonesborough town

    “r-2 12,000 4,500 50 ft.* 30 ft. 8 ft. per story 20 ft. 35 ft.”

• Building heightSpecified

  R-1 (low density) residential district, Jonesborough town

  maximum height of structures: <= 35 ft

  “r-1 15,000 7,500 80 ft.* 30 ft. 15 ft. 25 ft. 35 ft.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — R-2 (medium density) residential district, Jonesborough town

    “r-2 12,000 4,500 50 ft.* 30 ft. 8 ft. per story 20 ft. 35 ft.”

• Living in an RVProhibited

  Recreational vehicles and campers placed on a lot inside Jonesborough town for occupancy

  • Stated in the mobile homes chapter (11-1301)

  “uncertified mobile homes, recreational vehicles, and campers may not be placed on a lot for long or short term occupancy.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Mobile/manufactured homes on lots inside Jonesborough town

  • Not allowed within the historic zoning district
  • Must have HUD certification plate
  • Must be anchored per state law
  • Space under the home must be enclosed with permanent material
  • Further conditions in (4) onward not reviewed; R-1 permits single-family residences 'except mobile homes'

  “mobile home dwellings may be placed on a lot, except within the historic zoning district, subject to the following conditions”

• Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

  Premises inside Jonesborough town where an accessible sewer exists

  • Board of mayor and aldermen may waive mandatory connection by majority vote for sewer extension projects, only for households not in violation of public health regulations
  • Existing dwellings within 500 feet of the sewer may be exempted if septic is inspected and working (separate sewer-extension provision)
  • Septic tank is used only where no accessible sewer exists

  “wherever an accessible sewer exists and water under pressure is available, flush closets shall be provided, the wastes from such closets shall be discharged through a proper connection to said sewer”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Building permit fees inside Jonesborough town

  • Fees from the building and associated codes adopted; no fee up to $1,000 valuation unless inspection required ($15 per inspection)
  • Code codified through 2021; later fee changes may exist

  fee for $1,000 to $50,000 valuation: $15.00 for the first $1,000.00 plus $5.00 for each additional thousand

  “4-105. permit fees. the schedule of permit fees shall be the fees established in the building and associated codes herein adopted, as follows: schedule of permit fees building permit fees total valuation fee $1,000 and less no fee, unless inspection required, in which case a $15.00 fee for each inspection shall be charged. $1,000 to $50,000 $15.00 for the first $1,000.00 plus $5.00 for each additional thousand or fraction thereof, to and including $50,000.00.”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Building permits inside Jonesborough town
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption inside Jonesborough town
• Inspections — Building inspections inside Jonesborough town
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy inside Jonesborough town
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size inside Jonesborough 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.