Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Tatum, Texas

Tatum’s own rules

• InspectionsRequired

  Work covered by the City of Tatum residential building-permit application.

  • The statement is an applicant/permit-holder acknowledgement on the residential building-permit form.

  “I further understand that I am responsible for obtaining all required inspections, that a Certificate of Occupancy must be obtained prior to occupancy of the building or structure”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  A building or structure covered by the City of Tatum residential building-permit application.

  • The certificate must be obtained before occupancy.
  • The statement is an applicant/permit-holder acknowledgement on the residential building-permit form.

  “a Certificate of Occupancy must be obtained prior to occupancy of the building or structure”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Tatum city limits.

  • The official map also depicts Tatum's ETJ; this claim is limited to city limits.

  “This map displays the zoning areas, code, and description for city of Tatum, Texas. Also includes streets, city limits, Rusk and Panola county lines, and ETJ boundary information.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts shown on the official City of Tatum zoning map.

  • The map also shows an ETJ boundary; this claim concerns the city zoning map and does not establish standards for each district.

  districts shown: Agricultural (A); Single-Family Residential (R-1, R-2); Single-Family, Two-Family and Manufactured Home (R-3); Multi-Family (MF); Manufactured Home (MH); Business (B, B-1); Commercial (C); Industrial (I); Flood Plain Overlay (FP)

  “AGRICULTURAL DISTRICT ................. A SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL .......... R-1 SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL .......... R-2 SINGLE-FAMILY, TWO - FAMILY AND MANUFACTURE HOME ........ R-3 MULTI - FAMILY DISTRICT .................. MF MANUFACTURED HOME .................... MH BUSINESS DISTRICT .......................... B BUSINESS DISTRICT .......................... B-1 COMMERCIAL ..................................... C INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT ....................... I FLOOD PLAIN "OVERLAY" DISTRICT ......................... FP”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  New City of Tatum permitting needs.

  • Applicants must select the needed permit type, complete the form, and email it to permits@tatum.texas.gov.
  • A permit clerk contacts the applicant after processing with payment instructions.
  • Permits are generally issued within 48–72 hours; exceptions may occur.

  general issuance time: 48-72 hours (There may be exceptions.)

  “For all new permitting needs, please click below on the type of permit needed. Complete the form and email it to the following email address: permits@tatum.texas.gov. A permit clerk will contact you once your application is processed and will provide you with instructions on how to pay for the permit. Permits are generally issued within 48-72 hours. There may be exceptions.”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Residential construction inside Tatum city limits.
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Tatum city limits.
• Building code adopted — Construction inside Tatum city limits.
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Tatum city limits.
• Minimum lot size — Lots inside Tatum city limits.

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.