Williamson County, TN Code Violation Reporting: Common Violations (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Zoning Ordinance Sec. 22.03 (Violations)
- Fine range
- $10 to $50 per offense
- Fine authority
- Tenn. Code Ann. Sec. 13-7-111
- Continuing violation
- Each day is a separate offense
- Enforcing officials
- Codes Compliance / Building Codes Director
- Jurisdiction
- Unincorporated Williamson County only
Summary
Williamson County's Zoning Ordinance, Section 22.03, defines six categories of violations for property in the unincorporated county: building or developing without required permits, work that departs from an issued permit, breaching permit conditions, ignoring zoning, subdivision or general regulations, breaking any other Ordinance requirement, and letting a violation continue. The Codes Compliance Director and Building Codes Director enforce these standards, and each day a violation persists counts as a separate offense.
Any of the following shall be a violation of this Ordinance and shall be subject to the enforcement remedies and penalties provided by this Article and by State law: (A) To engage in any development, use, construction, remodeling or other activity of any nature upon the land and improvements thereon subject to the jurisdiction of the County without all of the required permits, certificates, or other forms of authorization as may be set forth in this Ordinance, or other applicable laws, to conduct or engage in such activity. (B) To engage in any development, use, construction, remodeling or other activity of any nature in any way inconsistent with the permit, certificate, or other form of authorization granted for such activity by the County. ... (D) To erect, construct, reconstruct, alter, maintain or use any building or structure or to use any land in violation or contravention of any zoning, subdivision, or general regulation of this Ordinance or any amendment thereto. ... (F) To continue any of the above-stated violations. Each day of a violation shall be considered a separate offense.
Full Breakdown
Article 22 of the Williamson County Zoning Ordinance, effective January 1, 2013 and confirmed unchanged in the county's current June 2025 posted edition, spells out what counts as a zoning violation on unincorporated county land. Section 22.03 lists six acts: (A) developing, building, remodeling or otherwise using land without all required permits or certificates; (B) carrying out permitted work in a way inconsistent with the permit or certificate issued; (C) violating any term or condition the County attached to a permit or certificate; (D) erecting, altering, maintaining or using a building, structure or parcel in violation of any zoning, subdivision or general regulation in the Ordinance; (E) violating any other term, condition, standard or requirement of the Ordinance or other applicable law; and (F) letting any of the above continue, with each day of a continuing violation treated as a separate offense.
Section 22.04 reaches beyond the property owner: a tenant, occupant, architect, engineer, builder, contractor or agent who participates in, assists, directs, creates or maintains the violation can also be held responsible. The Codes Compliance Director or Building Codes Director enforces these provisions under Section 22.05, with authority to inspect land and structures on presenting proper credentials and to institute enforcement proceedings.
Section 22.07 sets the penalty: a misdemeanor conviction carries a fine of not less than $10 nor more than $50 per offense under Tennessee Code Annotated Section 13-7-111, with civil enforcement proceedings available in addition. Paying the fine does not excuse the violator from bringing the property into compliance. Because Tennessee county zoning authority stops at municipal boundaries, this article governs unincorporated Williamson County only; Franklin, Brentwood, Spring Hill, Fairview and Nolensville enforce zoning violations under their own municipal codes.
Violations & Fines
Violating Section 22.03 is a misdemeanor: a court may impose a fine of $10 to $50 per offense under Tenn. Code Ann. Section 13-7-111, and each day the violation continues is a separate offense under subsection (F). The Codes Compliance Director or Building Codes Director can also pursue civil enforcement and revoke any permit issued in violation of the Ordinance under Section 22.06(C). Paying the fine does not bring the property into compliance; the underlying violation must still be corrected.
Frequently Asked Questions
What counts as a zoning violation in unincorporated Williamson County?
Who can be held responsible for a zoning violation?
What is the penalty for a zoning violation?
Does this apply inside Franklin or Brentwood?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Williamson County
Compare Williamson County to another location·View the Tennessee code violation reporting overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.