Hamilton County, TN Building Setbacks & Zoning: Setback Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Pre-2021 lots (§202)
- Front 25 ft / side 10 ft / rear 25 ft
- New-street subdivisions after 1/1/2017
- Side yard reduced to 5 ft
- Lots recorded on/after 7/21/2021 (§203)
- Front 20 ft / side 5 ft / rear 20 ft
- Corner lots (Art. VI §103.B)
- 20 ft side-street yard
- District
- R-1 Single-Family Residential
Summary
Hamilton County's R-1 Single-Family Residential District requires a 25-foot front yard, 10-foot side yards and a 25-foot rear yard under Zoning Regulations § 202, with a reduced 5-foot side yard in subdivisions platted with new streets after January 1, 2017. Resolution 721-45's § 203 sets 20-foot front and rear yards and a 5-foot side yard for lots recorded on or after July 21, 2021.
C. Front Yard There shall be a front yard of a minimum depth of twenty-five (25) feet.
D. Side Yard
(1) There shall be a side yard of a minimum depth of ten (10) feet on each side of the lot.
(2) In new subdivisions with new streets recorded after January 1, 2017,the minimum side yard setback shall be five (5) feet. ... E. Rear Yard There shall be a rear yard of a minimum depth of twenty-five (25) feet.
Full Breakdown
E). D(4). For lots and parcels recorded on or after July 21, 2021, § 203 (added by Resolution 721-45) instead sets a 20-foot front yard, a 20-foot rear yard, and a 5-foot side yard, with the same 25-foot side yard carve-out for churches and schools. B adds a separate rule that applies across the A-1, R-1, R-2, R-2A, R-3 and R-5 districts: the side yard next to the side street or road must be at least 20 feet, and no fence, wall or shrubbery over the fence-height limit may stand within 25 feet of a street intersection where it would block traffic visibility.
The county's A-1 Agricultural District carries comparable numbers under its own § 102 (25-foot front, 10-foot side, 25-foot rear), confirming these are district-specific figures rather than a single countywide setback table.
Violations & Fines
Building without meeting these yard minimums violates the Zoning Regulations and is a misdemeanor under Article VIII, § 105.B, punishable by a fine of $25 to $100 per offense, with each day a non-conforming structure remains standing charged as a separate violation. The Hamilton County Sheriff enforces the regulations under § 105.A, and the Building Commissioner can order removal or alteration of an encroaching structure under the § 105.C remedies provision.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum front yard setback in unincorporated Hamilton County?
How wide does my side yard need to be?
Do setback rules differ for corner lots?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Hamilton County
Compare Hamilton County to another location·View the Tennessee building setbacks & zoning overview
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