Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Clifton, Tennessee

Clifton’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Building, altering or adding to any structure inside Clifton city

  • Permit issued by the city recorder on the city manager's recommendation
  • Permit not issued if use is prohibited by city zoning law, violates ordinance or state law, or is unsafe
  • Flood hazard area construction needs city manager approval

  “it shall be unlawful for any person within the city limits of clifton, tennessee, to build, erect, construct, improve, or add to or modify any building or structure of any nature, either residential, commercial or otherwise, without first obtaining a permit therefor from the city recorder.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  Buildings and structures inside Clifton city

  • International Building Code 2015 edition plus subsequent amendments or additions
  • Building official means the person designated by the board of commissioners

  “the international building code,2 2015 edition, and all subsequent amendments or additions to the said code, as prepared and adopted by the international code council, is hereby adopted and incorporated by reference”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Construction in the flood hazard area inside Clifton city

  • City manager approval needed that construction complies with TVA regulations and the federal flood insurance program
  • Separate flood damage prevention ordinance at Title 14, Chapter 2 not reviewed in full

  “if the construction is to be in the flood hazard area, unless specifically approved by the city manager as being in compliance with all construction regulations of tva and the federal flood insurance program.”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Building permit fees inside Clifton city

  • Applicant files an application with the city recorder and pays the fee
  • No fee schedule amounts found

  “permit fees vary with the estimated size/price of the job per tennessee building permit regulations.”

• Permit processPartial

  Building permit process inside Clifton city

  • Application filed with city recorder; city manager examines for flood program compliance and may request more plans
  • Failure to provide requested information results in denial

  “upon compliance with the foregoing, the city recorder, upon recommendation of the city manager, shall issue a building permit to the applicant.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption inside Clifton city
• Inspections — Inspections inside Clifton city
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy inside Clifton city
• Local zoning — Zoning inside Clifton city
• Zoning districts — Zoning districts inside Clifton 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.