Chattanooga limits maximum building coverage to 60% of the lot in its standard residential zones (50% for non-residential uses in those zones). A detached accessory building also cannot cover more ground than the main house.
Chattanooga City Code Sec. 38-16 (Table 38-16.1) sets maximum building coverage at 60% across the RN-1-7.5, RN-1-6, RN-1-5, RN-1-3, RN-2, and RN-3 residential zones, with non-residential (NR) uses in those zones capped at 50%. Minimum lot area for the RN-1-7.5 zone is 7,500 square feet. Under Sec. 38-50(e), the footprint of any single detached accessory structure cannot exceed the footprint of the principal building, an additional coverage-style limit on sheds and garages. In unincorporated Hamilton County, the R1 zone likewise requires a minimum 7,500-square-foot lot; specific coverage limits are set in the Hamilton County Zoning Regulations, so verify with Development Services.
Exceeding the coverage cap requires a variance; building over the limit can result in denied permits, stop-work orders, and required removal of excess structure.
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See how Chattanooga's lot coverage limits rules stack up against other locations.
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