Bolthole Index

Carter County, Tennessee

Building permits, zoning and land rules in Carter County, Tennessee

62Index Score / 100
#78 of 95 in Tennessee

Unincorporated Carter County, Tennessee requires a residential building permit through Carter County Planning & Zoning1. The same office administers county zoning and subdivision regulations23. Septic construction permits and inspections go through the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC)4.

At a glance

Building permit
Required, issued by Carter County Planning & Zoning1
Zoning
Yes: agricultural, residential, business and industrial districts5
Septic permit
Required for installation or repair; issued through TDEC64
New conventional septic permit fee
$400, up to 1,000 gallons per day design flow7
Owner-builder license exemption
Yes — one personal residence every two years if it won't be sold, leased or rented8
A-1B setbacks
No setbacks for homes and mobile homes on individual lots9
Floodplain review
Handled by Carter County Planning & Zoning10
Driveway on a state highway
Requires a separate TDOT entrance permit11

Who to call

Building permits

Carter County Planning & Zoning

Residential building permit review, approval and administration; floodplain (FEMA) review; and litter ordinance enforcement for Carter County

(423) 542-1834

planning@cartercountytn.gov

300 N. Main St., Elizabethton, TN 37643

Online permits →

Zoning

Carter County Planning & Zoning

Administration of county zoning, subdivision and critical-area regulations, plus comprehensive planning for Carter County

(423) 542-1834

planning@cartercountytn.gov

300 N. Main St., Elizabethton, TN 37643

Online permits →

Septic permits

TDEC Johnson City Environmental Field Office

Septic System Construction Permits and related environmental services for Carter, Greene, Hancock, Hawkins, Johnson, Sullivan, Unicoi and Washington counties

(423) 854-5400

2305 Silverdale Drive, Johnson City, TN 37601-2162

Online permits →

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 Carter County means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Do you need a building permit in Carter County, Tennessee?

Yes. Unincorporated Carter County requires a county building permit for residential construction, and Carter County Planning & Zoning handles residential permit review, approval and administration1. Carter County enforces local building codes and is exempt from the state residential enforcement program, so the state's adopted code editions and inspection sequence do not establish the county's local requirements1213. Ask Planning & Zoning which local code edition, application materials and inspections govern the project because the published county process is incomplete14. A Tennessee owner may build one residence every two years for personal use without a contractor license if the home is not for resale, lease or rent; hired work of $25,000 or more remains subject to contractor licensing8.

Who handles building permits in Carter County, and how do you reach them?

Carter County Planning & Zoning handles residential building-permit review, approval and administration15. The office also administers subdivision and critical-area regulations and performs floodplain review310. Reach it at 300 N. Main St., Elizabethton, TN 37643, by phone at (423) 542-1834 or by email at planning@cartercountytn.gov15. Building-permit service is offered from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., but the complete application requirements and local inspection sequence could not be confirmed14. Ask Planning & Zoning what to submit, what the building permit costs, which inspections to schedule and whether the project needs a certificate of occupancy15.

Does Carter County have zoning?

Carter County Planning & Zoning administers zoning for unincorporated land; Tennessee grants county zoning authority outside municipal corporations216. Johnson City, which reaches into Carter County, sets its own zoning inside city limits17. Septic permits for Carter County properties still go through TDEC4. Carter County lists agricultural A-1, A-1A and A-1B; residential R-1, R-2 and R-3; business B-1, B-2 and B-3; and industrial M-1 and M-2 districts, but publishes summaries rather than a complete dimensional schedule5. The A-1B description says homes and mobile homes on individual lots require no setbacks there; that exception does not establish setbacks elsewhere9. Ask Planning & Zoning to confirm the parcel’s district, allowed use and dimensional standards18.

How do septic permits work in Carter County?

Carter County septic permits go through TDEC, with local help from the Johnson City Environmental Field Office419. Installing a system or repairing a faulty one requires a Septic System Construction Permit6. Apply online or send a paper application to the appropriate Environmental Field Office; review generally takes 10 days and must finish within 45 days after submission20. Include site details, occupants, bedrooms, water use, wells, driveway and utilities; soil maps and engineer designs may be required6. A conventional permit costs $400 up to 1,000 gallons per day, plus a $100 inspection fee; an alternative permit costs $500 at that flow, plus a $200 inspection fee721. Repair permits have no permit fee but carry a $100 inspection fee21. The installer must notify TDEC when installation is complete and arrange inspection before covering the system2223. For online application help, call 423-854-5124; the field office’s main number is (423) 854-540019.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home on your land in Carter County?

We could not confirm a county rule allowing long-term RV occupancy, temporary camping or tiny-home occupancy on private land in Carter County. Carter County has district-based zoning, but the published district material is only a summary5. The A-1B description removes setbacks for homes and mobile homes on individual lots, but that does not answer whether an RV or tiny home may be occupied on a particular parcel9. Before buying for either use, give Carter County Planning & Zoning the parcel number, intended structure, foundation type, utility plan and proposed occupancy. Ask the office to confirm the controlling jurisdiction, allowed use, setbacks, minimum dwelling size and sanitation requirements18.

Building a home in Carter County: the steps, in order

  1. Confirm the parcel's jurisdiction and zoning district, then ask Planning & Zoning about allowed uses, setbacks, floodplain review and subdivision issues5103.
  1. If the site will use septic, apply online or on paper through TDEC for a Septic System Construction Permit, including site and utility details and any required soil maps or designs206.
  1. Submit the residential building-permit application to Carter County Planning & Zoning during its published permit hours114.
  1. If acting as owner-builder, confirm the personal-use, timing and contractor-license conditions8.
  1. Obtain a TDOT entrance permit before constructing or changing a driveway on state highway right-of-way11.
  1. Ask the county which local building inspections apply, and arrange TDEC's final septic inspection before the system is covered142322.

What to check before you buy land in Carter County

Check septic feasibility before committing: only about 4.3% of Carter County soils are rated without severe limitations for a conventional drain field, so obtain a site-specific evaluation and permit decision rather than assuming a conventional system will work24. Carter County terrain deserves equal attention because just 16.7% of the land has a slope of 15% or less and 84.6% is wooded2526. Ask Planning & Zoning about floodplain review and verify legal road access; a driveway on state highway right-of-way needs a TDOT entrance permit1011. The county's effective property-tax rate is about 0.5%, with a median annual property-tax bill near $8332728.

Watch-outs

  • Carter County enforces local building codes and issues county residential permits, so the state residential permit program and its inspection sequence do not establish the local process113.
  • Only about 4.3% of Carter County soils are rated without severe limits for a conventional septic drain field, so get a site evaluation before buying24.
  • We could not confirm whether long-term RV or tiny-home occupancy is allowed on a particular Carter County parcel; ask Carter County Planning & Zoning about the parcel's district and intended use5.

Sources

  1. Planning & Zoning, quoted and re-checked
  2. Planning & Zoning, quoted and re-checked
  3. Planning & Zoning, quoted and re-checked
  4. Planning & Zoning, quoted and re-checked
  5. Planning & Zoning, quoted and re-checked
  6. Construction Permit for Subsurface Sewage Disposal Systems, quoted and re-checked
  7. Construction Permit for Subsurface Sewage Disposal Systems (SSDS) | Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, quoted and re-checked
  8. tn.gov, quoted and re-checked
  9. Planning & Zoning | Carter County Tennessee, quoted and re-checked
  10. Planning & Zoning, quoted and re-checked
  11. Highway Entrance Permits (Tennessee statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  12. Residential Permits, quoted and re-checked
  13. Residential Permit FAQs, quoted and re-checked
  14. Planning & Zoning, quoted and re-checked
  15. Carter County Planning & Zoning (cartercountytn.gov)
  16. Tennessee Attorney General Opinion No. 10-108 (Tennessee statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  17. Johnson City: Johnson City Zoning and Overlays MapServer (Carter County), quoted and re-checked
  18. Carter County Planning & Zoning (cartercountytn.gov)
  19. TDEC Johnson City Environmental Field Office (tn.gov)
  20. Construction Permit fees and processing, quoted and re-checked
  21. Construction Permit for Subsurface Sewage Disposal Systems, quoted and re-checked
  22. Subsurface Sewage Disposal System Installer, Pumper and Land Disposal Permits, quoted and re-checked
  23. Subsurface Sewage Disposal System Frequently Asked Questions, quoted and re-checked
  24. 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
  25. Share of land at 15% slope or less: Bolthole Index county data
  26. Wooded share of land: Bolthole Index county data
  27. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  28. Median property tax bill: 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.

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Compared with neighboring counties

Like 4 of its 6 neighbors, Carter County requires a building permit for a home.

RuleCarter CountySullivan CountyWashington CountyJohnson CountyUnicoi CountyGreene CountyHawkins County
Building permitRequiredRequiredRequiredNot requiredLimitedRequiredRequired
County zoningYesYesYesNoNot publishedYesNo
Septic permitsTDECTDECTDECTDECTDECTDECTDEC

County locator

Carter County in Tennessee

62
County map
Carter County highlighted among the Tennessee counties · colored by Index score

How Carter County scores

Seclusion31100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency58100% ev.
Admin Boringness46100% ev.
Durability81100% ev.
Property Autonomy71100% ev.
Carry Cost81100% ev.

Evidence strength: 100%. This reports direct-source completeness and fallback use; it is separate from the score and is not a confidence interval. How it works →

$244kTypical home
0.5%Property tax
$6,540Land / acre
50.2"Annual rain
0.5% of yrsSevere drought
0.7 / yr (+0.7)Mid-century 100°F days
10.7 daysMid-century dry spell
1.61" (+9.5%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.65×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
$1,261Home insurance / yr
-0.5% / yrInsurance growth
1.04%Nonrenewal rate
county median (2+ published ZIPs)Insurance basis
238,494People within 30 min
2,741,020People within 2 hr
174,703Radius comparison (15 mi)
167.1People / sq mi
8%Federal land
16.7%Land at 15% slope or less
4.3%Soils rated "not limited" for septic (strict USDA rating)
8,904 acWorkable land screen
84.6%Wooded land
69.5 tonsBiomass / forest ac
53.9°FAvg temp

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Cities and towns in Carter County

Inside a city or town, that city usually issues building permits and sets zoning; the county’s rules above cover unincorporated land. Septic, wells and floodplain rules usually stay with the county or state everywhere.

Elizabethton · Watauga

Answers from the rulebook for Carter County

What the ordinances and state agencies actually say — one answer per question, each quoted from the official source and independently re-checked.

Carter County rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Residential construction subject to Carter County jurisdiction.

    • Carter County is exempt from the State Residential Building Code Enforcement Program because local building codes are enforced by the local government.
    • The county page identifies residential building permit review, approval and administration as a Planning & Zoning responsibility.
    “Responsibilities include comprehensive planning; administration of county zoning, subdivision and Critical Area regulations; commercial and industrial site plan review and approval; residential building permit review, approval and administration; Litter Ordinance implementation and administration; floodplain review (FEMA); and agricultural land preservation programs.”
  • County-wide zoningPresent

    Countywide zoning administration in Carter County.

    “Responsibilities include comprehensive planning; administration of county zoning, subdivision and Critical Area regulations; commercial and industrial site plan review and approval; residential building permit review, approval and administration; Litter Ordinance implementation and administration; floodplain review (FEMA); and agricultural land preservation programs.”
  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    County-administered zoning in Carter County; this does not establish that the county administers municipal zoning ordinances.

    • The official page describes county zoning and lists county zoning districts.
    “Responsibilities include comprehensive planning; administration of county zoning, subdivision and Critical Area regulations; commercial and industrial site plan review and approval; residential building permit review, approval and administration; Litter Ordinance implementation and administration; floodplain review (FEMA); and agricultural land preservation programs.”
  • Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

    Carter County zoning districts summarized on the official Planning & Zoning page.

    • The page lists Agricultural A-1, A-1A, A-1B; Residential R-1, R-2, R-3; Business B-1, B-2, B-3; and Industrial M-1 and M-2 districts.
    • The page provides summaries rather than the complete ordinance or dimensional schedule.

    listed zoning districts: A-1, A-1A, A-1B, R-1, R-2, R-3, B-1, B-2, B-3, M-1, M-2

    “Agricultural [...] Residential [...] Business [...] Industrial”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Published (with conditions) — County zoning districts published by Carter County Planning & Zoning.
      “A-1 – Agriculture Agriculture and agriculturally oriented uses and structures. A-1A Same as the A-1 district, except rural mobile home parks are allowed. A-1B Same intent and standards as the A-1A district, except no setbacks are required for homes and mobile homes on individual lots.”
  • SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Homes and mobile homes on individual lots in the A-1B zoning district of Carter County.

    • The county's A-1B district description states an exception from setbacks for homes and mobile homes on individual lots; other district setbacks were not located.
    “Same intent and standards as the A-1A district, except no setbacks are required for homes and mobile homes on individual lots.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision regulation administered by Carter County Planning & Zoning.

    • The source does not provide subdivision thresholds, exemptions, or approval steps.
    “subdivision and Critical Area regulations”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Regulated (with conditions) — Subdivision regulation administered by Carter County Planning & Zoning.
      “Responsibilities include comprehensive planning; administration of county zoning, subdivision and Critical Area regulations; commercial and industrial site plan review and approval; residential building permit review, approval and administration; Litter Ordinance implementation and administration; floodplain review (FEMA); and agricultural land preservation programs.”
  • Building in a floodplainLimited

    Floodplain review for development in Carter County.

    • The county source identifies floodplain review by FEMA but does not provide the applicable floodplain thresholds, permits, or exceptions.
    “Responsibilities include comprehensive planning; administration of county zoning, subdivision and Critical Area regulations; commercial and industrial site plan review and approval; residential building permit review, approval and administration; Litter Ordinance implementation and administration; floodplain review (FEMA); and agricultural land preservation programs.”
  • Permit processPartial

    Residential permit administration by Carter County Planning & Zoning.

    • The official page identifies building-permit hours of 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and provides the Planning & Zoning office contact, but the full application requirements document and complete process were not established from an opened source.
    “Responsibilities include comprehensive planning; administration of county zoning, subdivision and Critical Area regulations; commercial and industrial site plan review and approval; residential building permit review, approval and administration; Litter Ordinance implementation and administration; floodplain review (FEMA); and agricultural land preservation programs.”

Tennessee rules that apply here

  • Owner-builder exemptionConditional

    A Tennessee property owner constructing a single residence for the owner's individual use.

    • The owner may have one permit every two years.
    • The residence must not be for sale, lease, or rent.
    • If the owner hires a contractor, the contractor is a prime and must be licensed and obtain the building permit for inspections.
    • Contracts may not be split into phases to circumvent the licensing law.
    • Anyone paid more than $25,000 by the owner is considered a prime and must be licensed.
    • The exemption is based on TCA 62-6-103 and Rule 0680-1-.22.

    owner permits: per 1 permit per two years · contractor payment threshold: > 25000 USD (Anyone paid in excess of this amount is considered a prime and must be licensed.)

    “one permit every two years to build their home as long as it is not for sale, lease, or rent (individual use).”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Available (with conditions) — An owner constructing a single residence for the owner's own use.
      “Yes. Pursuant to TCA § 62-6-103, an owner of property may construct a single residence once every two years for his/her own use, as long as it is not for resale, lease or rent without being a licensed contractor. However, anyone hired by the homeowner whose portion is $25,000 or more would not be exempt from the contractors’ licensing requirements.”
  • Building code adoptedPartial

    Tennessee State Fire Marshal's Office residential building-code standards for one- and two-family dwellings and townhomes statewide, except where a qualifying local government enforces its own current residential code or has opted out.

    • The State Fire Marshal's Office has adopted the 2018 International Residential Code with amendments.
    • For one- and two-family dwellings and townhomes, the adopted energy code is the 2018 International Energy Conservation Code with amendments.
    • The statewide program applies only in areas that have not received an exemption from the State Fire Marshal's Office because local building codes are enforced by the local government or opted out of state residential building codes and enforcement by a two-thirds vote of the city or county legislative body.
    • A qualifying local jurisdiction may continue operating its own program if its building code is current within seven years of the most recent edition; other versions may be approved in writing by the State Fire Marshal's Office.
    • A county legislative body may vote to remove unincorporated areas of the county from the state program, and a city legislative body may vote to remove the city from the state program.
    • A city or county may opt out by passage, by a two-thirds vote, of a resolution exempting the city or county; the opt-out resolution expires 180 days following the date of the election for the city or county's legislative body.
    • If the subsequent legislative body does not vote to opt out before the resolution expires, the State Fire Marshal's Office begins enforcing the residential building-code requirements until the city or county enforces residential building codes or passes another opt-out resolution.
    • The State Fire Marshal's Office enforces only the codes it adopts; local governments enforce other locally adopted codes or requirements.
    • The state residential building permit is a building permit only and is not grading or fill approval, floodplain compliance, a septic or sewer permit, an electrical permit, or zoning approval.
    • The permit fee is based on the cost of construction and covers all required inspections and one free re-inspection; additional re-inspections cost $100 each.

    International Residential Code edition: 2018 (with amendments) · International Energy Conservation Code edition for one- and two-family dwellings and townhomes: 2018 (with amendments) · local-code currency window: <= 7 years (other versions can be approved in writing by the State Fire Marshal's Office) · opt-out vote: two-thirds vote (resolution expires 180 days following the date of the election for the city or county's legislative body) · additional re-inspection fee: 100 USD (one re-inspection per permit is free)

    “The codes currently adopted by the Tennessee State Fire Marshal’s Office are: [...] International Residential Code (IRC), 2018 edition, published by the ICC, with amendments;”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Adopted (with conditions) — Tennessee one- and two-family dwellings and townhouses where the State Fire Marshal residential program applies, including Carter County unless a qualifying local exemption or opt-out applies.
      “The state has adopted the 2018 International Residential Code (IRC) and the 2018 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC).”
  • InspectionsRequired

    State residential building-code inspections where the Tennessee State Fire Marshal residential program applies.

    • The program applies only in areas without a qualifying local exemption or opt-out.
    • The FAQ states that required inspections include foundation, rough-in/framing, final construction, and in specified cases an additional slab inspection and plumbing/mechanical inspections.
    • An inspection may be waived if an approving letter is signed by a Tennessee-registered architect or engineer.
    “Three inspections will be required: the foundation prior to pour, the rough-in/framing, and at final construction. If your foundation is to be a concrete slab under a living space with separately poured footing, you will need a fourth inspection. After October 1, 2011, inspections will also be required on plumbing and mechanical systems.”
  • Certificate of occupancyLimited

    Certificates of occupancy for one- and two-family dwellings in Tennessee opt-out or non-code jurisdictions when the State Fire Marshal's Office inspects the dwelling during construction.

    • The owner or contractor may obtain a state building permit to request the inspection.
    • The Certificate of Occupancy is released only if the dwelling is determined to meet statewide building construction safety standards.
    • The source describes this process for opt-out or non-code jurisdictions and for new construction or additions to existing homes.
    “determined to meet the statewide building construction safety standards, the State Fire Marshal’s Office will release a Certificate of Occupancy”
  • Camping on your landLimited

    Overnight camping on Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency-controlled Wildlife Management Areas and related lands where overnight camping is allowed.

    • Overnight camping may be permitted only in designated areas and by permission from the area manager, park ranger, lake manager, park superintendent, or national forest supervisor.
    • Camping is subject to limitations prescribed in the permit if required.
    • Camping may not exceed three weeks from the beginning to the end of the camping stay.
    • Owner contact information or a TWRA ID number and date of arrival must be displayed on a camper, tent, vehicle, or similar item at all times.
    • Where overnight camping is allowed, firearms and archery equipment must remain in camp except during legal hunting hours.

    maximum camping stay: <= 3 weeks

    “May be permitted in designated areas by permission from the area manager, park ranger, lake manager, park superintendent, or national forest supervisor. Such camping is subject to the limitations prescribed in the permit if required.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Limited — Camping and use of trailers or other camper units in Tennessee state forests administered by the Tennessee Department of Agriculture, Division of Forestry.
      “Camping and the use of trailers or other camper units are allowed only at designated locations. The district forester will issue written permits to persons to camp in backcountry or other isolated sections of a forest area.”
  • Who permits septicMixed (with conditions)

    Tennessee subsurface sewage disposal system construction permitting and related SSDS administration statewide.

    • The Tennessee Division of Water Resources administers SSDS permitting in non-contract counties.
    • Permit packages and Certificate of Completion packages for sites in contract counties are submitted directly to the contract county.
    • The listed contract counties are Blount, Davidson, Hamilton, Jefferson, Knox, Madison, Sevier, Shelby, and Williamson.
    • Installer permits are valid statewide, but contract counties may require an additional permit.
    “Permit packages and Certificate of Completion Packages for sites located in the contract counties listed below should be submitted directly to the contract county.”
    3 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • State (with conditions) — Septic permitting and inspection applicable to Carter County properties.
      “contact the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC).”
    • State (with conditions) — Septic permitting and inspection applicable in Carter County.
      “Any individual or property owner who desires to have a subsurface sewage disposal (septic) system installed on their property or requiring repair to an existing faulty system must get a Septic System Construction Permit.”
    • Mixed (with conditions) — Statewide subsurface sewage disposal system permitting and assistance, with specified contract counties providing ground water protection services in their own areas.
      “NOTE: Some counties provide ground water protection services for their own areas. The online application form is not to be submitted for services requested in the following metropolitan or contact counties: Blount County, Davidson County/Nashville, Hamilton County, Jefferson County, Knox County, Madison County, Sevier County, Shelby County, Williamson County.”
  • Septic permitRequired

    Construction, installation, modification, or repair of residential, commercial, or industrial septic systems in Tennessee.

    • A permit is required before construction, modification, or repair.
    • A septic system permit should be obtained before starting dirt work or construction of any building, including the building pad.
    • Repair permits have no permit fee.
    • Alternative systems require an extra-high intensity soils map prepared by a Tennessee-licensed soils consultant.
    • Contract counties may require an additional permit.

    new conventional SSDS permit fee: 400 USD up to 1000 gallons per day design flow ($100 for each additional 1000 gpd flow) · new alternative SSDS permit fee: 500 USD up to 1000 gallons per day design flow ($150 for each additional 1000 gpd flow) · experimental SSDS permit fee: 500 USD · repair permit fee: 0 USD (Repair construction inspection fee is $100)

    “A septic system permit is required for the construction, modification or repair of a septic system. This permit ensures that the septic system design complies with state regulations and safeguards your health by properly managing wastewater.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
  • Septic inspectionRequired

    Installation of subsurface sewage disposal systems in Tennessee.

    • The installer must notify the Division when installation is complete.
    • A final inspection is scheduled before the system is covered.
    • TDEC inspects each SSDS installation for compliance with permit conditions and regulatory requirements.
    • Inspection fees vary by system type: $100 for new conventional or large-diameter graveless pipe systems, $200 for alternative systems, and $100 for repair construction inspections.

    new conventional construction inspection fee: 100 USD · alternative construction inspection fee: 200 USD · repair construction inspection fee: 100 USD

    “The applicant or SSDS installer must notify the Division when a system has been installed so that it can be inspected and approved.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
  • Mandatory utility hookupConditional

    Connection of buildings to sanitary sewer systems where a qualifying Tennessee utility system has issued bonds payable for sewer services and the property abuts a street or public way containing a sanitary sewer.

    • The property must abut a street or other public way containing a sanitary sewer.
    • A building must exist on the lot or parcel for residential, commercial, or industrial use.
    • The utility system may require connection and cessation of other sewage-disposal methods.
    • For electrical service, written notification must show public sewer service, a septic permit application, or an existing septic system.
    “Utility systems within the State of Tennessee that have issued bonds payable for sewer services are granted authority in TCA § 7-35-201 (1) to "require the owner tenant or occupant of each lot or parcel of land that abuts upon a street or other public way containing a sanitary sewer and upon which lot or parcel a building exists for residential, commercial or industrial use, to connect the building with the sanitary sewer and to cease to use any other means for the disposal of sewage, sewage waste or other polluting matter."”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Sewer (with conditions) — Residential, commercial, or industrial buildings on lots or parcels abutting a street or other public way containing a sanitary sewer, where the applicable Tennessee utility system has issued bonds payable for sewer services.
      “Utility systems within the State of Tennessee that have issued bonds payable for sewer services are granted authority in TCA § 7-35-201 (1) to "require the owner tenant or occupant of each lot or parcel of land that abuts upon a street or other public way containing a sanitary sewer and upon which lot or parcel a building exists for residential, commercial or industrial use, to connect the building with the sanitary sewer and to cease to use any other means for the disposal of sewage, sewage waste or other polluting matter."”
  • Agricultural exemptionConditional

    Buildings or structures on land used for agricultural purposes and subject to county zoning regulation in Tennessee.

    • The building or structure must be located on lands devoted to agricultural uses.
    • The building or structure must be incidental to the agricultural enterprise.
    • The exemption does not apply to agricultural lands adjacent or in proximity to state or federal-aid highways, public airports, or public parks.
    • The exemption does not apply to land located within the one-hundred-year flood plain.
    • The Attorney General opinion states that the provision applies to counties only and has no application to municipalities.
    • There is no blanket exemption for cotton gins, grain elevators, slaughterhouses, processing plants, or milk bottling plants; those structures qualify only when the statutory conditions are met.
    “it must be located on lands “devoted to agricultural uses;” and (2) it must be “incidental to the agricultural enterprise.””
  • Driveway accessLimited

    Construction, modification, revision, or change in use of a driveway on Tennessee state highway right-of-way.

    • The requirement applies to state highway right-of-way and does not establish a permit requirement for every driveway on every road.
    • Property owners must obtain the permit from TDOT.
    • County or municipal land-use regulations may also apply.
    “Under state law, a permit is required before construction of a driveway on state highway right-of-way, including the modification, revision, or change in use”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    Tennessee SSDS permit and construction-inspection fees applicable to Carter County septic work.

    • New conventional or large-diameter graveless-pipe permits cost $400 up to 1,000 gallons per day, plus $100 for each additional 1,000 gpd.
    • New alternative permits cost $500 up to 1,000 gpd, plus $150 for each additional 1,000 gpd.
    • Experimental permits cost $500; repair permits have no permit fee; construction-inspection fees are separately stated.

    new conventional or large diameter graveless pipe SSDS permit: 400 USD up to 1000 gallons per day design flow ($100 for each additional 1000 gpd flow) · new conventional SSDS construction inspection: 100 USD · new alternative SSDS permit: 500 USD up to 1000 gallons per day design flow ($150 for each additional 1000 gpd flow) · alternative SSDS construction inspection: 200 USD · experimental SSDS permit: 500 USD · repair permit: 0 USD (No permit fee) · repair construction inspection: 100 USD

    “New Conventional or Large Diameter Graveless Pipe SSDS Permit | $400 up to 1000 gallons per day design flow $100 for each additional 1000 gpd flow New Conventional or Large Diameter Graveless Pipe SSDS Construction Inspection | $100 New Alternative SSDS Permit | $500 up to 1000 gallons per day design flow $150 for each additional 1000 gpd flow Alternative SSDS Construction Inspection | $200 Experimental SSDS Permit | $500 Repair Permit | No permit fee Repair Construction Inspection | $100”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
  • county zoning authorityGeneral

    County legislative bodies adopting zoning regulations for portions of Tennessee counties outside municipal corporations.

    • The authority is exercised under the conditions and procedures in Tennessee Code Annotated §§ 13-7-101 through 13-7-119.
    • The grant applies to portions of counties outside municipal corporations.
    • County zoning authority does not authorize county building permits or regulation of buildings or structures on agricultural land when the building or structure is incidental to the agricultural enterprise, except on agricultural lands adjacent or in proximity to state federal-aid highways, public airports or public parks.
    • The agricultural-land limitation applies to counties only and has no application to municipalities.
    “Under Tenn. Code Ann. § 13-7-101, et seq., the General Assembly has expressly delegated the authority to county legislative bodies to enact zoning regulations and create a board of zoning appeals.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission — ask the county directly.

  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling-size requirements in Carter County.
  • Minimum lot size — Minimum lot-size requirements in Carter County.
  • Lot coverage — Lot-coverage requirements in Carter County.
  • Building height — Building-height requirements in Carter County.
  • Living in an RV — RV occupancy on private land in Carter County.
6 more unanswered
  • Tiny homes
  • Manufactured homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Short-term rentals

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.

Living off-grid in Carter County, Tennessee

Is Carter County a good place to live off-grid or homestead?

Carter County scores 62/100 on the Bolthole Index, a solid county profile. Its strengths: a durable current and mid-century hazard profile and manageable long-term carry cost. Watch-outs: about 238,494 people within a 30-minute drive.

Do you need a building permit in Carter County, Tennessee?

Carter County generally requires a residential building permit, and it enforces county zoning. Onsite septic is permitted by Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC), Subsurface Sewage Disposal Systems program. Owner-builders may act as their own contractor to build their home. These answers are quoted from official sources and independently re-checked. Rules change and cities within the county differ — always confirm with the county before you buy or build.

How much does land cost in Carter County, Tennessee?

Land in Carter County runs about $6,540 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in Carter County?

Carter County gets about 50.2" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 0.5% of years.

How remote is Carter County?

A representative private-land location has about 238,494 people within a 30-minute drive and 2,741,020 within two hours. The road-network catchments count population across county lines and clusters of smaller cities; straight-line radius values remain available as a comparison.

How Carter compares in Tennessee

Compare side-by-side →See all 95 Tennessee counties ranked →