Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Sparta, Tennessee

Sparta’s own rules

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  Buildings and structures inside Sparta city

  • 2018 edition of the International Building Code; appendices A, C, D and others adopted by § 12-202
  • Code has other adopted codes (residential, plumbing, gas, mechanical, electrical, etc.) in Title 12 not individually quoted here

  IBC edition: 2018

  “the international building code,2 2018 edition and developed and published by international code council, 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 Sparta city limits

  • Zoning provisions in Title 14 chapters 2-14 continue the zoning ordinance of May 1, 1974.

  “for the purpose of chapters 2 through 14 of this title and as shown on the official zoning map, sparta, tennessee, is hereby divided into ten (10) use districts as follows:”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Zoning districts inside Sparta city

  • Official zoning map available on city site

  “commercial a districts - (transition business) commercial b districts - (neighborhood shopping) commercial c districts - (central business) commercial d districts - (general business) industrial m-1 districts - (manufacturing-industry) flood plain district historic h-1 districts - (historic overlay zone)”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Residential A (single-family) districts inside Sparta city

  • Other districts not reviewed

  lot area: >= 10000 sq ft · lot width: >= 80 ft

  “(1) lot area: 10,000 sq. ft. (2) lot width: 80 ft. (3) lot coverage (by all buildings): 35 percent”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Residential A (single-family) districts inside Sparta city

  • Corner-lot rules in § 14-209 and § 14-201(23)
  • Other districts not reviewed

  front yard: >= 30 ft · side yard (each side): >= 12 ft · rear yard: >= 30 ft

  “(1) front: 30 ft. (2) side: 12 ft. for either side (see § 14-209) (3) rear: 30 ft.”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  Residential A (single-family) districts inside Sparta city

  • Other districts not reviewed

  lot coverage by all buildings: <= 35 percent

  “(1) lot area: 10,000 sq. ft. (2) lot width: 80 ft. (3) lot coverage (by all buildings): 35 percent”

• Building heightSpecified

  Residences in Residential A (single-family) districts inside Sparta city

  • Other permitted structures: 50 feet or 4 stories, with 1 ft added to front and side yards per foot over 30 ft
  • Other districts not reviewed

  residence height: <= 30 ft or 2 stories

  “maximum height shall be: (1) residence: 30 feet or 2 stories.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Mobile homes in Residential B districts inside Sparta city

  • Subject to chapter 10 provisions and all applicable subdivision regulations
  • Other districts (including Residential A, where only single-family detached dwellings are listed) not fully reviewed

  “in residential "b" districts, mobile homes are permitted in mobile home parks only, subject to the provisions of this chapter set forth hereinafter”

• Mandatory utility hookupConditional

  Houses and buildings used for human occupancy within Sparta's sewer service area (sewer connection)

  • Applies where a public sanitary sewer is located or may in future be located and is within 500 feet of the property line over public access
  • Connection required within 60 days after official notice
  • Where public sewer is not available, building sewer connects to a private system complying with § 18-103
  • Manufacturing facilities may discharge under an NPDES permit
  • Physical connection requires a written permit and connection fee under § 18-106

  distance to public sewer: <= 500 feet · time to connect after notice: 60 days

  “within sixty (60) days after date of official notice to do so, provided that said public sewer is within five hundred feet (500') of the property line over public access.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision of land inside Sparta city

  • Details in Title 14 ch. 15 and the posted subdivision regulations not reviewed

  “click here to view the sparta subdivision regulations”

• Permit feesPublished

  Building permit fees inside Sparta city

  • Fee schedule is by total valuation; valuation method in § 12-207(b)
  • Fee schedule continues beyond $1,000 tiers (e.g. $15.00 for first $1,000 plus $5.00 per additional thousand up to $50,000)

  inspection fee when valuation $1000 or less: 15 USD per inspection (no fee unless inspections required)

  “total valuation fee $1000 and less no fee, unless inspections required, in which case a $15.00 fee for each inspection shall be charged.”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Building permits inside Sparta city
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption inside Sparta city
• Inspections — Building inspections inside Sparta city
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy inside Sparta city
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size, Residential A

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.