Zoning Department
The Jefferson County Zoning Office provides information on zoning regulations and building permits.
Jefferson County Zoning Office
Zoning Compliance Officers:
Tim Seals (Director)
Stephanie Rustin (Assistant)
Office Hours:
8 - 4 p.m., Monday - Friday
Address:
P.O. Box 710
Dandridge, TN 37725
Phone# (865) 397-4414
Fax# (865) 397-7612
Our office is located in downtown Dandridge on the first floor of the courthouse (202 W. Main St.).
Frequently Asked Questions
1. When do I need a building permit?
You need to purchase a building permit for any new structure or addition to existing structure that is not portable, other than a structure that is used strictly for agricultural use only.
2) What do I need to get a permit?
A building permit for a house: Warranty Deed, Copy of Survey or Plat of the property, Copy of Septic permit approval from the Health Department, and the square footage of the home and garage.
A building permit for a mobile home: Warranty Deed, Copy of the Survey or Plat of the property, Copy of the Septic permit approval from the Health Department, and a Copy of the Bill of Sale for the Home.
3) How much will the building permit cost me?
See the building permit cost formula.
4) What is my property zoned?
To discover what zoning district your property is located in you will have to call or stop by the office.
5) What guidelines do I have to follow when building my house?
The County has passed the 2006 International Residential Code and before any residential construction is permitted all plans must be reviewed and approved by the Building Department.
6) There used to be a single-wide mobile home on my property; can I replace it now with another single-wide?
You can replace a nonconforming mobile home with another one as long as you do it within six (6) months. You will need to receive health department approval, along with a building permit for the structure.
7) What are the setbacks on my property?
If your property is zoned A-1: your setbacks are 30 ft. off the front property line and 10 ft. off the side and rear lot lines. Unless accessory buildings are attached to the house they must remain beside or behind the house while also remaining 5 ft. off the side and rear lot lines.
If your property is zoned R-1: your setbacks are 30 ft. of the front property line and 12 ft. off the side and rear lot lines. Unless accessory buildings are attached to the house they must remain beside or behind the house while also remaining 7 ft. off the side and rear lot lines.
8) Is my property located in a flood zone?
To determine this, you will have to come into the office to view the FEMA maps that we have available. We are not allowed to provide this information over the phone.
9) Can I put another house on my property?
You are not allowed to have more than one dwelling unit on any one piece of property. In order to place a second home on your property you will have to hire a licensed surveyor to cut a tract off for that home. In A-1 district, the minimum lot size is currently 40,000 square feet (.92) acre if the Health Department for approves it for a septic system. All lots must also have 50 ft. of county road frontage to access the property.
Click here for Zoning and Building Fees
Subdivision Regulations
Click here to download subdivision regulations.
Zoning Regulations
Click here to download zoning regulations.
New Zoning and Compliance Fees
Click here for the new zoning & compliance fees