Bolthole Index

Claiborne County, Tennessee

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

81Index Score / 100
#13 of 95 in Tennessee

Unincorporated Claiborne County, Tennessee requires a county building permit, issued by the County Mayor's Office1. Inside New Tazewell, Tazewell and Harrogate, those cities issue building permits instead, but septic permits for every address in the county, city or not, come from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) and must be in hand before a building permit23. We could not confirm a countywide zoning ordinance; the Planning Commission administers minimal subdivision regulations4.

At a glance

Building permit
Required outside city limits, through the County Mayor's Office1
Zoning
No countywide zoning ordinance found; only minimal subdivision rules5
Septic permits
Required from TDEC (not the county or cities) before a building permit is issued32
State building code
County has opted out; state inspection is available on request, not automatic6
RVs / campers on private land
Require a county building permit7
Owner-builder exemption
Available once every two years for a home you'll occupy yourself8
Building permit fee
Based on Building Structure Value (sq ft x $200), tiered 0.15% to 1%9
New driveways
Need a Highway Department appointment before connecting to a county road10

Who to call

Building permits

Claiborne County Mayor's Office (Building Permits)

Building permits for unincorporated Claiborne County, including houses, mobile/modular homes, campers, and electrical work; city permits are issued separately in New Tazewell, Tazewell, and Harrogate

423-626-5236

Old Courthouse, Main Street, Tazewell, TN

Septic permits

TDEC Knoxville Environmental Field Office (Subsurface Sewage Disposal Permits)

Issues Subsurface Sewage Disposal System (septic) construction and repair permits for Claiborne County; required before the county will issue a building permit

865-594-6035

Roads & driveways

Claiborne County Road Superintendent (Highway Department)

New driveway connections to county roads, driveway design assistance, and drainage questions

423-626-3462

105 Blue Top Road, Tazewell, TN 37879

Planning & zoning

Claiborne County Planning Commission

Administers Claiborne County's minimal subdivision regulations, including Category 1 Survey Plat review

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 9, 2026.

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

Unincorporated Claiborne County, Tennessee requires a county building permit to construct, enlarge or remodel a building, issued by the County Mayor's Office1. Claiborne County has opted out of Tennessee's statewide residential building-code program, so a state inspector does not automatically check a new home against state construction standards the way it would in a county still enrolled in the program6. An owner who wants that inspection can ask the State Fire Marshal's Office to check the home, and the state can release a Certificate of Occupancy when the home meets statewide building-construction safety standards11. Inside New Tazewell, Tazewell and Harrogate the city issues the building permit, not the county2. A TDEC septic permit, required for every address in the county, must be obtained before Claiborne County will issue the building permit2.

Who issues building, septic and road permits in Claiborne County, and how do you reach them?

Building permits for unincorporated Claiborne County are issued by the County Mayor's Office, located in the old courthouse on Main Street in Tazewell, phone 423-626-523612. Building permits inside New Tazewell, Tazewell, and Harrogate are issued by those cities instead of the county2. Septic permits and inspections are administered by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation through the appropriate Environmental Field Office; the county directs applicants to 865-594-6035313. New driveways connecting to a county road need an appointment with the Road Superintendent at the Claiborne County Highway Department, 105 Blue Top Road, Tazewell, TN 37879, phone 423-626-346214. Subdivision plats go through the Claiborne County Planning Commission1516.

Does Claiborne County have zoning?

No official Claiborne County source confirms an adopted countywide zoning ordinance for unincorporated land; the Planning Commission administers what the county calls minimal subdivision regulations54. Minimum dwelling size, minimum lot size, setbacks, lot coverage, and building height therefore remain unconfirmed; ask the Planning Commission about a specific parcel before relying on the absence of a published countywide ordinance515. Subdividing land is still regulated: the Planning Commission requires an appropriate Category 1 Survey Plat on paper because the office cannot print full-size plats from electronic files16. Buildings on land devoted to agricultural use and incidental to the farm operation are exempt from county zoning, except near a state federal-aid highway, public airport, public park, or within the one-hundred-year floodplain; this county-zoning exemption does not apply inside municipalities or erase separate permit requirements17.

How do septic permits work in Claiborne County?

A TDEC permit is required before constructing, modifying, or repairing a septic system in Claiborne County, and review may take up to 45 days after TDEC receives a complete application18. A new conventional septic permit costs $400 for up to 1,000 gallons per day of design flow and an alternative system costs $50019. The state asks owners to get the septic permit before starting dirt work, including the building pad19. Before the Environmental Scientist's site visit, mark the property lines and desired house location and mow or bush-hog the site18. After installation, the installer must schedule a final inspection before covering the system; approval results in a Certificate of Completion20. Construction-inspection fees are $100 for a new conventional or large-diameter graveless-pipe system, $200 for an alternative system, and $100 for a repair20. Only 10.7% of Claiborne County's soil is rated free of severe limitations for a conventional septic drain field, so the site evaluation can materially affect a land purchase21.

Can you put an RV, camper, or manufactured home on your land in Claiborne County?

A camper on a mobile-home lot or private property in unincorporated Claiborne County requires a county building permit, and a septic permit must be in hand first7. The application requires the property owner's name, property address, and square footage of living space7. A mobile-home permit is priced from the home's purchase price rather than the Building Structure Value formula used for site-built construction9. Claiborne County has not published a rule confirming separate occupancy conditions for campers or manufactured homes, or a specific tiny-home occupancy rule, so ask the County Mayor's Office before buying a unit or preparing a site12.

Building in Claiborne County: the steps, in order

  1. Apply to TDEC for the septic permit first; the county will not issue a building permit without it23.
  2. If you're creating a new lot, confirm the Category 1 Survey Plat requirements with the Planning Commission1615.
  3. If a new driveway will connect to a county road, make an appointment with the Road Superintendent or Foreman before cutting it in1014.
  4. Apply at the County Mayor's Office with the property owner's name, property address, and living-space square footage212.
  5. Budget for a Building Structure Value based on square footage times $200 per square foot, with a permit rate from 0.15% to 1% depending on value; mobile-home permits instead use purchase price9.
  6. If you're building the home yourself to occupy it, Tennessee's licensing exemption allows one permit every two years when the home is not for sale, lease, or rent and no single subcontractor receives more than $25,00022.
  7. Have the septic installer arrange TDEC's final inspection before covering the system23.

What to check before you buy land in Claiborne County

Water: we could not confirm a separate permit requirement for a private domestic well in Claiborne County, so ask TDEC before drilling13. Soils: only 10.7% of Claiborne County's soil is rated free of severe limitations for a conventional septic drain field, and only 17.9% of the county's land sits at 15% slope or less, so evaluate the house and drain-field sites before purchase2124. Access: a new driveway onto a county road needs a Highway Department appointment, and one onto a state highway right-of-way needs a separate TDOT permit1025. Building: budget for the county's Building Structure Value fee, calculated from square footage times $200 per square foot and a rate from 0.15% to 1%, plus septic and driveway costs9. Taxes: Claiborne County's effective property tax rate is about 0.5%, with a median annual property tax bill of about $7282627. Setting: Claiborne County has 75.1 people per square mile, is about 38 miles from the nearest city of 100,000 or more, and is 72.8% wooded282930.

Watch-outs

  • Claiborne County's opt-out from the state residential building-code program means no automatic state inspection of your new home; if you want proof it meets statewide safety standards, request a State Fire Marshal inspection and Certificate of Occupancy yourself611.
  • We could not confirm a separate permit requirement for a private domestic well in Claiborne County, so ask TDEC before you drill13.
  • We could not confirm Claiborne County occupancy rules for manufactured homes, tiny homes, accessory dwellings, or temporary camping beyond the building-permit process, so ask the County Mayor's Office before committing to a plan12.

Sources

  1. Building Permits – Claiborne County, quoted and re-checked
  2. Building Permits – Claiborne County, quoted and re-checked
  3. Subsurface Sewage Disposal System (SSDS) Frequently Asked Questions, quoted and re-checked
  4. Planning Commission – Claiborne County, quoted and re-checked
  5. Claiborne County Planning Commission (2026 county census)
  6. Residential Jurisdictions & Inspectors, quoted and re-checked
  7. Building Permits, quoted and re-checked
  8. Can I build my own home without a license? (2026 county census)
  9. Building Permits – Claiborne County, quoted and re-checked
  10. Road Superintendent – Claiborne County, quoted and re-checked
  11. Statewide Building Construction Code Inspections in “Opt-Out” or “Non-Code” Jurisdictions (Tennessee statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  12. Claiborne County Mayor's Office (Building Permits) (claibornecountytn.gov)
  13. TDEC Knoxville Environmental Field Office (Subsurface Sewage Disposal Permits) (claibornecountytn.gov)
  14. Claiborne County Road Superintendent (Highway Department) (claibornecountytn.gov)
  15. Claiborne County Planning Commission (claibornecountytn.gov)
  16. Planning Commission – Claiborne County, quoted and re-checked
  17. Exemption from County Zoning Regulation for Buildings on Land Used for Agriculture, quoted and re-checked
  18. Subsurface Sewage Disposal System (SSDS) Frequently Asked Questions, quoted and re-checked
  19. Septic System Construction Permit, quoted and re-checked
  20. Subsurface Sewage Disposal System (SSDS) Frequently Asked Questions, quoted and re-checked
  21. 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
  22. Can I build my own home without a license? (Tennessee statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  23. Subsurface Sewage Disposal System (SSDS) Frequently Asked Questions, quoted and re-checked
  24. Share of land at 15% slope or less: Bolthole Index county data
  25. Highway Entrance Permits (Tennessee statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  26. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  27. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data
  28. Population density: Bolthole Index county data
  29. Straight-line distance from the county center to the nearest city of 100,000+ people: Bolthole Index county data
  30. Wooded share of land: Bolthole Index county data

Written October 9, 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

Unlike all 6 of its neighbors, Claiborne County requires a building permit only in limited cases.

RuleClaiborne CountyUnion CountyGrainger CountyHancock CountyHamblen CountyCampbell CountyJefferson County
Building permitLimitedRequiredNot requiredNot requiredRequiredRequiredRequired
County zoningNoYesNoNoYesNoYes
Septic permitsTDECTDECTDECTDECTDECTDECTDEC

County locator

Claiborne County in Tennessee

81
County map
Claiborne County highlighted among the Tennessee counties · colored by Index score

How Claiborne County scores

Seclusion58100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency59100% ev.
Admin Boringness74100% ev.
Durability74100% ev.
Property Autonomy71100% ev.
Carry Cost86100% 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 →

$232kTypical home
0.5%Property tax
$4,395Land / acre
52.6"Annual rain
1.5% of yrsSevere drought
2.8 / yr (+2.7)Mid-century 100°F days
12 daysMid-century dry spell
2.13" (+10.4%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.73×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
$1,496Home insurance / yr
-0.3% / yrInsurance growth
1.13%Nonrenewal rate
county median (2+ published ZIPs)Insurance basis
36,968People within 30 min
2,059,666People within 2 hr
57,262Radius comparison (15 mi)
75.1People / sq mi
2.7%Federal land
17.9%Land at 15% slope or less
10.7%Soils rated "not limited" for septic (strict USDA rating)
28,480 acWorkable land screen
72.8%Wooded land
54.9 tonsBiomass / forest ac
55.8°FAvg temp

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Cities and towns in Claiborne 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.

Town of Cumberland Gap · Harrogate · Town of New Tazewell · Town of Tazewell

Answers from the rulebook for Claiborne County

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

Claiborne County rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Construction, reconstruction, alteration, enlargement, or remodeling of buildings and other structures in unincorporated Claiborne County.

    • A septic permit is required before a building permit can be issued.
    • Within the city limits of New Tazewell, Tazewell, and Harrogate, building permits are issued by the respective city offices rather than the County Mayor’s Office.
    • The application requires the property owner’s name, property address, and square footage of living space.
    • The county webpage states that permit prices are based on Building Structure Value (total square footage multiplied by $200 per square foot): 0.15% under $250,000; 0.25% from $250,000 to $500,000; 0.50% from $500,000 to $1,000,000; and 1% over $1,000,000.
    • Mobile-home permit prices are based on purchase price.
    • Campers in mobile-home lots or on private property require a building permit.
    • The Tennessee State Fire Marshal’s current jurisdiction list identifies Claiborne County as OPT OUT of the State Residential Building Program; this concerns application of statewide residential building standards and does not negate the county’s local permit requirement.

    building structure value basis: total square footage x $200 per square foot · permit fee for BSV under $250,000: 0.15 percent · permit fee for BSV $250,000-$500,000: 0.25 percent · permit fee for BSV $500,000-$1,000,000: 0.5 percent · permit fee for BSV over $1,000,000: 1 percent

    “A building permit is a license that is required granting legal permission to construct, enlarge, or remodel a building. Building Permits for Claiborne County are issued by the County Mayor’s Office located in the old courthouse on Main Street in Tazewell. Building permits within city limits of New Tazewell, Tazewell, and Harrogate are issued by those city offices.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Limited — Building permits issued by the Claiborne County Mayor’s Office for properties outside the city limits of New Tazewell, Tazewell, and Harrogate, including mobile homes and campers on mobile-home lots or private property.
      “A building permit is a license that is required granting legal permission to construct, enlarge, or remodel a building.”
  • Building code adoptedNot adopted (with conditions)

    Application of Tennessee statewide building-construction standards to one- and two-family dwellings within Claiborne County's jurisdictional boundaries.

    • This finding is limited to the statewide standards for one- and two-family dwellings; it does not establish the adoption status of other construction codes or of codes administered by incorporated municipalities.
    • An owner of a building, structure, or premises in an opt-out jurisdiction may request State Fire Marshal’s Office inspection to determine whether it meets statewide building-construction safety standards.
    • For a one- or two-family dwelling that meets statewide building-construction safety standards, the State Fire Marshal’s Office will release a Certificate of Occupancy.
    “Claiborne County | OPT OUT | Lisa Crumpley | l.crumpley@yahoo.com | 865-740-0537 [...] OPT OUT - The jurisdiction has passed a resolution opting out of the program”
  • Living in an RVLimited

    Campers in mobile-home lots or on private property in county areas served by the Claiborne County Mayor’s Office.

    • A county building permit is required for campers in mobile-home lots or on private property.
    • A septic permit is required before a building permit can be issued.
    • Within the city limits of New Tazewell, Tazewell, and Harrogate, building permits are issued by the respective city offices rather than the County Mayor’s Office.
    • The property owner’s name, address, and square footage of living space are required to obtain a building permit.
    “Building Permits for Claiborne County are issued by the County Mayor’s Office located in the old courthouse on Main Street in Tazewell. Building permits within city limits of New Tazewell, Tazewell, and Harrogate are issued by those city offices. A septic permit is required before a building permit can be issued. For more information on a septic permit, call 865-594-6035. The name of the property owner, address, and square footage of living space is required to obtain a building permit. [...] *Campers in mobile home lots or on private property require a building permit.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Limited — Campers or recreational vehicles located in mobile home lots or on private property in unincorporated Claiborne County.
      “*Campers in mobile home lots or on private property require a building permit.”
  • Subdividing landLimited

    Subdivision review and related platting in the Claiborne County Planning Commission's county planning area

    • The county describes the regulations as minimal subdivision regulations.
    • Claiborne County requires appropriately Category 1 Survey Plats.
    • Electronic submission of plats is not allowed because the Planning Commission does not have the capability to print full-size plats.
    • The official page does not state the numeric lot sizes, road standards, or other detailed controls in the linked PDF.
    “Claiborne County Tennessee has enacted minimal subdivision regulations to help manage growth within the County.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Limited — Subdivision of land within the Claiborne County planning region.
      “Claiborne County Tennessee has enacted minimal subdivision regulations to help manage growth within the County.”
    • Limited — Subdivision activity in Claiborne County, including subdivision and mobile-home-park developments requiring contact with the county Planning Commission and Highway Department
      “Claiborne County Tennessee has enacted minimal subdivision regulations to help manage growth within the County.”
  • Driveway accessRequired

    All new driveways connecting to a Claiborne County road.

    • The property owner must contact the Highway Department and make an appointment with the Road Superintendent or Foreman.
    • The Highway Department assists with driveway design and evaluates drainage problems at connections to the county roadway.
    • Subdivision and mobile-home-park developments must also contact the Claiborne County Planning Commission.

    highway_department_phone: 423-626-3462

    “All new driveways connecting to a county road will need to contact the Highway Department and make an appointment with Road Superintendent or Foreman. We can assist in a correct design of the driveway and evaluate drainage problems with connections to the county roadway, that will alleviate future drainage problems. Also, all subdivision or mobile home park developments need to contact the Highway Department and the Claiborne County Planning Commission.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Required — New driveways connecting to county roads in Claiborne County.
      “All new driveways connecting to a county road will need to contact the Highway Department and make an appointment with Road Superintendent or Foreman.”
  • Permit feesPublished

    Claiborne County building permits administered by the County Mayor’s Office, including mobile-home permits priced by purchase price.

    • Building permit prices are based on Building Structure Value.
    • BSV is calculated as total square footage multiplied by $200 per square foot.
    • Mobile-home building permits are based on purchase price.
    • Campers in mobile-home lots or on private property require a building permit.

    BSV calculation: total square footage x $200 per square foot · permit fee for BSV under $250,000: 0.15 percent · permit fee for BSV from $250,000 to $500,000: 0.25 percent · permit fee for BSV from $500,000 to $1,000,000: 0.5 percent · permit fee for BSV over $1,000,000: 1 percent

    “Building permit prices are based off of the Building Structure Value (BSV). BSV = total square footage x $200 per square foot. Under $250,000 – 0.15% $250,000 – $500,000 – 0.25% $500,000 – $1,000,000 – 0.50% Over $1,000,000 – 1% *Building permit for mobile homes are based on the purchase price.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Published (with conditions) — County building permits issued by the Claiborne County Mayor's Office outside the incorporated city limits of New Tazewell, Tazewell, and Harrogate.
      “Building permit prices are based off of the Building Structure Value (BSV). BSV = total square footage x $200 per square foot. Under $250,000 – 0.15% $250,000 – $500,000 – 0.25% $500,000 – $1,000,000 – 0.50% Over $1,000,000 – 1% *Building permit for mobile homes are based on the purchase price. *Campers in mobile home lots or on private property require a building permit.”
  • Permit processPartial

    County building-permit application process outside the incorporated city limits of New Tazewell, Tazewell, and Harrogate.

    • A septic permit is required before a building permit can be issued.
    • The applicant must provide the property owner's name, property address, and square footage of living space.
    • Building permits within city limits of New Tazewell, Tazewell, and Harrogate are issued by those city offices.
    • The page provides a county building-permit process but does not establish processes for every other permit type.

    county_building_permit_contact: 423-626-5236 · septic_permit_prerequisite: true

    “Building Permits for Claiborne County are issued by the County Mayor’s Office located in the old courthouse on Main Street in Tazewell. Building permits within city limits of New Tazewell, Tazewell, and Harrogate are issued by those city offices. A septic permit is required before a building permit can be issued. For more information on a septic permit, call 865-594-6035. The name of the property owner, address, and square footage of living space is required to obtain a building permit. For more information on building permits in the County, call 423-626-5236.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Published (with conditions) — Building permits issued by Claiborne County outside the incorporated limits of New Tazewell, Tazewell, and Harrogate.
      “Building Permits for Claiborne County are issued by the County Mayor’s Office located in the old courthouse on Main Street in Tazewell. Building permits within city limits of New Tazewell, Tazewell, and Harrogate are issued by those city offices. A septic permit is required before a building permit can be issued. For more information on a septic permit, call 865-594-6035. The name of the property owner, address, and square footage of living space is required to obtain a building permit.”
  • County-wide zoningAbsent

    The county's Planning Commission administers only minimal subdivision regulations; no countywide zoning resolution was found.

    Claiborne County Planning Commission ↗Scouted from the county site, not yet independently re-checked

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).”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Conditional — An owner constructing a single residence in Claiborne County for the owner's own use and occupancy under Tennessee law.
      “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.”
    • Available (with conditions) — An owner constructing a single residence for the owner's own use in Tennessee, including Claiborne County, subject to applicable local permitting and other laws.
      “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.”
  • 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 — Subsurface sewage disposal systems in Claiborne County, including installation and repair of septic systems.
      “Completed application forms and application fees should be sent to the Division of Water Resources at the appropriate Environmental Field Office.”
    • State — Septic-system permitting and inspection for properties in Claiborne County, including unincorporated areas, which is not identified as a Tennessee contract county on the cited TDEC construction-permit page.
      “Completed application forms and application fees should be sent to the Division of Water Resources at the appropriate Environmental Field Office.”
    • 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
    • Required — Installation of a new subsurface sewage disposal system or repair of an existing faulty septic system in Claiborne 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.”
    • Required — Construction, modification, or repair of septic systems in Claiborne County.
      “A septic system permit is required for the construction, modification or repair of a septic system.”
  • Septic inspectionRequired

    Residential, commercial, and industrial subsurface sewage disposal systems in Claiborne County, Tennessee, including new installations and repairs or modifications of existing systems.

    • A septic-system permit is required for construction, modification, or repair of a septic system.
    • After installation is complete, the installer must contact the local Environmental Scientist to schedule a final inspection before the system is covered.
    • If the installation is approved, the Environmental Scientist issues a Certificate of Completion.
    • Claiborne County is not identified among Tennessee's listed contract counties; the state TDEC Division of Water Resources administers the septic permitting and inspection process for this county.
    • Claiborne County's official building-permit page states that a septic permit is required before a county building permit can be issued.

    new conventional or large diameter graveless pipe SSDS construction inspection fee: 100 USD · new alternative SSDS construction inspection fee: 200 USD · repair construction inspection fee: 100 USD

    “When installation is complete, the installer will contact the local Environmental Scientist to schedule a final inspection before the system is covered. If the septic system installation is approved, the Environmental Scientist will issue a Certificate of Completion.”
    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 agricultural land in Tennessee counties, including Claiborne County to the extent county zoning regulation applies

    • 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 federal-aid highways, public airports, or public parks.
    • The exemption does not apply if the building or structure is located on land within the one-hundred-year flood plain.
    • The provision applies to counties only and has no application to municipalities.
    • The Attorney General opinion states there is no blanket exemption for cotton gins, grain elevators, slaughterhouses, processing plants, or milk bottling plants.
    “it must be located on lands “devoted to agricultural uses;” and (2) it must be “incidental to the agricultural enterprise.””
    3 more reviewed findings on this topic
  • Building in a floodplainLimited

    Development in or near mapped floodplains throughout Tennessee, insofar as Tennessee's statewide floodplain-management guidance describes locally administered requirements.

    • Floodplain development requirements are managed locally by the community where the property is located.
    • Each NFIP-participating community has a local floodplain administrator who helps manage development in mapped flood hazard areas.
    • If the property is inside city limits, contact the city floodplain administrator; if outside city limits, contact the county floodplain administrator.
    • Local review may be required before development begins in a regulated floodplain.
    • Requirements vary by community and are based on the local floodplain management ordinance and flood zones mapped in that community.
    • Development activity that may require local review includes construction, repairs, substantial improvements, placement of fill, grading, excavation, manufactured homes, accessory structures, or other development activity.
    • Floodplain management ordinances are adopted, administered, and enforced by the local community, not by TEMA.

    local review before development in a regulated floodplain: may be required (Requirements vary by community and mapped flood zone.)

    “Floodplain development requirements are managed locally. Each community that participates in the National Flood Insurance Program has a local floodplain administrator who helps manage development in mapped flood hazard areas. [...] If the property is inside city limits, contact the city floodplain administrator. If the property is outside city limits, contact the county floodplain administrator. [...] Local review may be required before development begins in a regulated floodplain. Requirements vary by community and are based on the local floodplain management ordinance and flood zones mapped in that community.”
  • 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.

  • Inspections — Building inspections for construction in Claiborne County.
  • Local zoning — Zoning administered by incorporated municipalities or other local authorities within Claiborne County, Tennessee.
  • Zoning districts — Published zoning districts for Claiborne County, including unincorporated areas administered by the county.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size requirements in unincorporated Claiborne County.
  • Minimum lot size — Minimum lot-size requirements in unincorporated Claiborne County.
9 more unanswered
  • Setbacks
  • Lot coverage
  • Building height
  • 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 Claiborne County, Tennessee

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

Claiborne County scores 81/100 on the Bolthole Index, a strong county profile. Its strengths: manageable long-term carry cost and mixed durability signals.

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

Claiborne County requires a building permit only in limited cases (such as floodplains or specific zones), and it has no county-wide zoning. Onsite septic is permitted by Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) - Division of Water Resources. 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.

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

Living in an RV on your own land in Claiborne County is limited to specific cases: Campers in mobile-home lots or on private property in county areas served by the Claiborne County Mayor’s Office. A county building permit is required for campers in mobile-home lots or on private property. A septic permit is required before a building permit can be issued. Confirm with the county before relying on it.

How much does land cost in Claiborne County, Tennessee?

Land in Claiborne County runs about $4,395 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in Claiborne County?

Claiborne County gets about 52.6" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 1.5% of years.

How remote is Claiborne County?

A representative private-land location has about 36,968 people within a 30-minute drive and 2,059,666 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 Claiborne compares in Tennessee

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