Bolthole Index

Williamson County, Tennessee

Building permits, zoning and septic rules in Franklin, Tennessee

Franklin, Tennessee requires residential construction plans through the city’s electronic plan review system, and Franklin Building and Neighborhood Services issues building and trade permits.12 Inside Franklin city limits, the city administers zoning; Williamson County’s Department of Sewage Disposal Management handles local septic approvals.34

At a glance

Building permits
City Building and Neighborhood Services issues building and trade permits2
Zoning
City ordinance; use and dimensional standards vary by district3
Septic permits
Williamson County construction approval is required for septic system work54
R1 minimum lot
30,000 square feet; recorded subdivision plat standards may govern6
Agricultural minimum lot
15 acres in the AG district7
Detached-home building fee
$0.77 per square foot under roof, including qualifying storage; includes electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits8

Who to call

Building permits

Franklin Building and Neighborhood Services

City building permit counter

615.794.7012

120 9th Ave. South

Planning & zoning

Franklin Planning and Sustainability

City planning inquiries

615.791.3212

120 9th Ave. South

Codes & inspections

Franklin Building and Neighborhood Services — Development and Building Services

City building and trade permits, zoning compliance inquiries and construction inspections

Septic permits

Williamson County Department of Sewage Disposal Management

Local onsite septic system permitting and administration

(615) 790-5751

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 11, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Franklin means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Do you need a building permit in Franklin, TN?

Franklin Building and Neighborhood Services issues building, plumbing, mechanical and electrical permits inside the city.2 Franklin requires construction plans for residential and commercial projects through its electronic plan review system.1 The published single-family detached-home building permit fee is $0.77 per square foot under roof, including storage accessible by permanent stairways or doorways; electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits are included.8 Other structures use valuation-based fees, with the greater of applicant valuation and the current ICC valuation data used.8

Who handles building permits and zoning questions in Franklin?

For Franklin building permit applications, contact Building and Neighborhood Services at 615.794.7012; the city lists the department at 120 9th Ave. South.9 Franklin’s Building and Neighborhood Services zoning section is the primary contact for zoning compliance and inquiries.2 Franklin Planning and Sustainability is also listed at 120 9th Ave. South, with telephone 615.791.3212.10 Septic approval belongs with Williamson County’s Department of Sewage Disposal Management, rather than the city building permit counter.4 For property outside Franklin city limits, use the Williamson County guide for the county’s unincorporated-area building permit requirements.11

Does Franklin have zoning, and what are the lot sizes and setbacks?

Franklin administers its own zoning ordinance throughout city limits, with district-specific use and dimensional standards.3 In Franklin’s R1—Residential 1 district, the minimum lot size is 30,000 square feet, and principal-building setbacks are 60 feet front, 25 feet side and 50 feet rear; recorded subdivision final-plat standards may govern.612 In Franklin’s AG—Agricultural district, the minimum lot size is 15 acres, with principal-building setbacks of 225 feet front, 50 feet side and 100 feet rear.713 Both district excerpts limit principal-building height to 2.5 stories.1415 Ask Franklin’s zoning section to identify the parcel’s district and applicable plat before designing the house.2

How do septic permits work inside Franklin?

Williamson County requires a valid Department of Sewage Disposal Management construction permit before constructing, altering, extending, modifying or repairing conventional or alternative septic systems.5 Williamson County administers local onsite septic requirements, and Tennessee specifically directs Williamson County applicants away from the state’s online groundwater-protection application.416 Call the county sewage office at (615) 790-5751 for the local application route.17 Williamson County requires a layout inspection before construction begins and a final inspection for every septic installation.18 At county scale, only 14.1% of soils are rated not limited for conventional drain fields; that supports arranging a site evaluation, not assuming septic is impossible on a particular Franklin lot.19

Can you live in an RV or tiny home on land in Franklin?

We could not confirm a complete Franklin rule allowing RV occupancy, temporary camping or tiny-home occupancy on private land; ask Franklin Building and Neighborhood Services’ zoning section about the proposed use before buying a parcel for that purpose.2 Franklin’s zoning ordinance applies to uses and development throughout city limits, so a district’s lot-size allowance alone does not establish permission to occupy an RV or tiny home.3 We also could not confirm Franklin’s minimum dwelling floor area, manufactured-home occupancy permissions or off-grid sanitation options; take those questions to the city zoning section and, for septic alternatives, Williamson County’s sewage office.217

What are the steps to build a home in Franklin?

  1. Ask Franklin’s zoning section to confirm the district and applicable recorded-plat standards before placing a house on the lot.26
  2. If the project uses septic, obtain Williamson County’s construction approval and arrange the required layout inspection before septic construction begins.518
  3. Submit residential construction plans through Franklin’s electronic plan review system; the city application page also lists driveway access control, floodplain, homeowner affidavit, and water-and-sewer tap forms.1
  4. Coordinate building and trade permits with Franklin Building and Neighborhood Services and arrange required construction inspections.2
  5. Complete the county’s final septic inspection for a septic installation.18

Watch-outs

  • Franklin’s R1 dimensional standards can be superseded by recorded subdivision final-plat standards; confirm the plat before relying on the district defaults.6
  • Williamson County’s sewage office advertises a public hearing on proposed regulation amendments at its October 20, 2026 Board of Health meeting; ask the office whether changes affect your application.17
  • We could not confirm the conditions for Franklin’s homeowner affidavit or an agricultural-building exemption; ask city Building and Neighborhood Services before assuming either removes building permit requirements.19

Sources

  1. Permitting (Franklin), quoted and re-checked
  2. Franklin Building and Neighborhood Services — Development and Building Services (franklintn.gov)
  3. Franklin Zoning Ordinance 2024 (Franklin), quoted and re-checked
  4. Sewage Disposal, quoted and re-checked
  5. Regulations Governing On-Site Sewage Disposal Systems, quoted and re-checked
  6. Franklin Zoning Ordinance 2024 (Franklin), quoted and re-checked
  7. Franklin Zoning Ordinance 2024 (Franklin), quoted and re-checked
  8. Development and permit fees (Franklin), quoted and re-checked
  9. Franklin Building and Neighborhood Services (franklintn.gov)
  10. Franklin Planning and Sustainability (franklintn.gov)
  11. Williamson County, Tennessee Zoning Ordinance, quoted and re-checked
  12. Franklin Zoning Ordinance 2024 (Franklin), quoted and re-checked
  13. Franklin Zoning Ordinance 2024 (Franklin), quoted and re-checked
  14. Franklin Zoning Ordinance 2024 (Franklin), quoted and re-checked
  15. Franklin Zoning Ordinance 2024 (Franklin), quoted and re-checked
  16. Online Application for Septic Related Services (Tennessee statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  17. Williamson County Department of Sewage Disposal Management (williamsoncounty-tn.gov)
  18. Regulations Governing On-Site Sewage Disposal Systems, quoted and re-checked
  19. Share of soils USDA rates "not limited" for a conventional septic drain field (SSURGO). A strict rating: the median county is about 6% and a tenth of counties are 0%, so a low figure means most lots need a site evaluation or an engineered system, not that septic is impossible. Cite it only with that caveat: Bolthole Index county data

Written October 11, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

Answers from the rulebook for Franklin

Franklin’s own rules

  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside Franklin city limits; Franklin administers its own zoning ordinance.

    • The ordinance contains multiple zoning districts and district-specific use and dimensional standards.
    “This Ordinance applies to all land, lots, buildings, structures, uses, improvements, and development or redevelopment activity located within the City of Franklin, Tennessee, referred to throughout this Ordinance as “the City”.”
  • Permit feesPublished

    Franklin development and building permits.

    • Single-family detached-home fees include electrical, plumbing, and mechanical permits.
    • Other structures use valuation-based fees; applicant valuation is compared with the most current ICC Standard Building Valuation Data and the greater amount is used.

    single-family detached building permit fee: 0.77 USD per square foot under roof (Includes storage areas accessible by permanent stairways/doorways; evaluated each fiscal year based on CPI.)

    “$.77 per square foot under roof including storage areas accessible by permanent stairways/doorways”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Residential and commercial construction and use permits inside Franklin city limits.

    • Construction plans must be submitted through the electronic plan review system.
    • The page lists applications for driveway access control, floodplain permits, grinder-pump agreements, accessory-building plans, homeowner affidavits, and water-and-sewer taps.
    • Short-term vacation-rental applications are accepted through the plan-review portal only.
    “The City of Franklin requires construction plans for all residential and commercial projects to be submitted through our electronic plan review system.”

Rules another office applies inside Franklin

Franklin does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    AG—Agricultural District inside Franklin city limits.

    • The district requires one principal building per lot.
    • The 15-acre minimum is the district's stated minimum lot size.

    minimum lot size: 15 acres

    “Minimum Lot Size 15 acres Lot Width 200 feet Front Lot Line 160 feet”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Specified — R1—Residential 1 District inside Franklin city limits.
      “Minimum Lot Size 30,000 square feet Lot Width 100 feet Front Lot Line 80 feet, but may be reduced to 30 feet when on a turning radius of a cul-de-sac”
  • SetbacksSpecified

    R1—Residential 1 District inside Franklin city limits.

    • Front-yard appurtenances may encroach up to 6 feet; side-yard appurtenances up to 5 feet but not closer than 5 feet to the lot line; rear-yard appurtenances up to 15 feet but not closer than 20 feet to the lot line.
    • Recorded-subdivision final-plat standards may govern.

    front setback: 60 feet · side setback: 25 feet · rear setback: 50 feet

    “Principal Building Setbacks Minimum Front Yard 60 feet Side Yard 25 feet Rear Yard 50 feet”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Specified — AG—Agricultural District inside Franklin city limits.
      “Principal Building Setbacks Minimum Front Yard 225 feet Side Yard 50 feet Rear Yard 100 feet”
  • Building heightSpecified

    R1—Residential 1 District inside Franklin city limits.

    • Accessory structures may not exceed the principal-building height; minor accessory structures are limited to one story.
    • Recorded-subdivision final-plat standards may govern other dimensional standards.

    maximum principal building height: 2.5 stories

    “Building Height Maximum Principal Building 2 ½ stories”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Specified — AG—Agricultural District inside Franklin city limits.
      “Building Height Maximum Principal Building 2 ½ stories”
  • Who permits septicState

    Properties inside Franklin city limits using a subsurface sewage disposal system; TDEC Division of Water Resources administers the state septic permitting process.

    • A TDEC Environmental Scientist conducts the site evaluation.
    • A licensed installer must install an issued system.
    • The installer must schedule a final inspection before the system is covered.
    “A TDEC Environmental Scientist will conduct a site evaluation to determine the type of septic system required for your property.”
  • Septic permitRequired

    Construction, modification, or repair of septic systems serving property inside Franklin city limits.

    • The permit is required for residential, commercial, and industrial properties.
    • A septic permit should be obtained before dirt work or construction of any building, including the building pad.
    • Processing may take up to 45 days from receipt of a complete application.
    “A septic system permit is required for the construction, modification or repair of a septic system.”
  • Septic inspectionRequired

    New septic installations inside Franklin city limits.

    • Final inspection must occur before the system is covered.
    • If approved, the Environmental Scientist issues a Certificate of Completion.
    “When installation is complete, the installer will contact the local Environmental Scientist to schedule a final inspection before the system is covered.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision activity inside Franklin city limits when a septic system is or will be used.

    • A subdivision evaluation is required to divide a tract or parcel into two or more lots, sites, or other divisions for immediate or future construction where septic is or will be used.
    • A survey and soils map must be submitted.
    • A division into two or more tracts or parcels where all are 5 acres or larger is excluded from the cited definition.
    “A Subdivision Evaluation is required if you want to divide any tract or parcel of land into 2 or more lots, sites or other divisions for the purpose of immediate or future construction of houses, buildings, or other development where a septic system is or will be used.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for construction inside Franklin city limits.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size inside Franklin city limits.
  • Lot coverage — Maximum building lot coverage inside Franklin city limits.
  • Living in an RV — Occupancy of recreational vehicles on private land inside Franklin city limits.
  • Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Franklin city limits.
5 more unanswered
  • Tiny homes
  • Manufactured homes
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Agricultural exemption

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.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Franklin publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Williamson County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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