Counties › Tennessee › Hawkins County, TN
The Hawkins County government homepage says the county has no zoning restrictions or code enforcement and issues no building permits. Other rules still apply, including septic, floodplain, state building permits and any recorded deed restrictions. This page sums up what the county's own pages and the state agencies' pages say. Confirm every point with the county before you buy or build.
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The Hawkins County homepage says: "Hawkins County does not have any zoning restrictions, or code enforcement."
The county still has a Planning Commission. The county's Minutes & Agendas page says it meets on the fourth Thursday of each month, and the Stormwater Management page says it reviews and approves stormwater plans in the urbanized area within about one mile of the corporate limits of Mt. Carmel and Church Hill.
The county's statement covers the county itself. Towns inside it, such as Mt. Carmel and Church Hill (named on the county's stormwater page), may have their own rules. Confirm with the town and with the county.
The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) says any individual or property owner who wants a septic (subsurface sewage disposal) system installed on their property, or needs an existing faulty system repaired, must get a Septic System Construction Permit. TDEC recommends applying online; paper applications go to the appropriate TDEC Environmental Field Office. TDEC lists fees by system type, for example $400 for a new conventional system permit up to 1,000 gallons per day design flow plus a $100 construction inspection, and says the applicant or installer must notify the Division when the system is installed so it can be inspected.
The Hawkins County Health Department page says its division of groundwater protection oversees septic system planning and inspection, along with water sample testing and subdivision approval. The Health Department has offices in Rogersville and Church Hill. Confirm the steps with them or with TDEC before you buy or build.
The Hawkins County Emergency Management Agency page says anyone planning to develop inside or near the floodplain in Hawkins County should call the agency and request a floodplain development packet, which includes information and resources for floodplain development.
The same page says flood maps show how likely an area is to flood and points readers to FEMA's National Flood Hazard Layer or FEMA flood maps to check whether a property is in the floodplain.
The county's Stormwater Management page says a TDEC stormwater permit is required for any land disturbance, other than agriculture, of an acre or more, that a second permit from the county is required when that disturbance is in the urbanized area near Mt. Carmel and Church Hill, and that permits are to be obtained before land disturbance begins.
The Hawkins County homepage says: "Hawkins County does not issue building permits." It adds that all building permits are issued through the State of Tennessee at www.TN.gov.
The State Fire Marshal's Office (Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance) lists Hawkins County among the counties where a state residential building permit is required for construction in the unincorporated areas (not in a city). Its Residential Permits page says the state program covers one- and two-family dwellings and townhouses under the 2018 International Residential Code and 2018 International Energy Conservation Code, that permits are bought online or from a local issue agent, and that state-contracted inspectors check the foundation, the framing/rough-in and the final construction.
The same page says a state residential permit is not required for detached garages, sheds, barns or other detached structures not used for living. The state also asks builders to check with the local government about any local permits. Confirm with the county and the State Fire Marshal's Office which permits your project needs.
The State Fire Marshal's Residential Permits page says a permit is not required for the installation of a manufactured or modular home, but one is needed for custom site work that is part of exiting the home, such as a deck, patio or stoop.
The Manufactured Housing and Modular Buildings Section of the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance licenses manufactured home installers and performs installation inspections under the Tennessee Manufactured Home Installation Act. Its installer FAQ says the installer buys an installation permit decal from a county court clerk, completes the set-up, places the decal in the home's electrical panel box cover, and reports the installation to the State Fire Marshal's Office within seven days; if the home is to be inspected, the inspection happens within 20 business days of that report.
The Hawkins County Clerk's forms page lists an "Affidavit of Affixation for Manufactured or Mobile Home"; the page does not say what it is used for. Confirm the steps with the County Clerk and the state section before a home is set.
No county zoning does not remove private restrictions recorded against a property, such as deed covenants or homeowners association rules. Those still apply.
The Hawkins County Register of Deeds records real estate documents, including deeds and deeds of trust. Check the recorded deed and any related documents for a parcel with the Register of Deeds.
County offices (Mayor's office main line): (423) 272-7359. Stormwater Management: (423) 523-5179. Emergency Management Agency, for the floodplain development packet: (423) 272-8059 ext. 2257.
Health Department (septic): Rogersville office (423) 272-7641; Church Hill office (423) 357-5341. Register of Deeds: (423) 272-8304 or (423) 272-3091. County Clerk: Rogersville office 423-272-7002; Church Hill office 423-357-3361.
State: TDCI Manufactured Housing Section 615-741-7192; Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance (615) 741-2241; TDEC (888) 891-TDEC (8332).
LandCheck took these facts from the county sources listed under each heading. General information, not legal advice: the county, the health department and a licensed installer have the final word, so confirm anything that matters with them before you buy. LandCheck is free with no account; terms, privacy and refunds.