Building Setbacks & Zoning in Rutherford County, TN (2026)
3 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Rutherford County, Tennessee.
Verified from official government sources
Setback Rules
Unincorporated Rutherford County's Table 1 sets residential setbacks by district: AR requires a 50-foot front, 20-foot rear and 10-foot side yard, tightening to a 30-foot front and 10-foot side in the RMF district, with farm buildings exempt entirely under Section 404.
Setback Rules by District in Rutherford County
Some RestrictionsRutherford County Zoning Ordinance, Table 1 (Residential Districts – Bulk Regulations); § 404
Table 1. Residential Districts – Bulk Regulations ... AR – Agricultural Residential 217,800 sq. ft. (5 acres) Residential - 200 ft. Other Uses - 300 ft. Front - 50 ft. Rear - 20 ft. Side - 10 ft. ... RL - Low Density Residential 43,560 sq. ft. (1 acre) Residential - 100 ft. Other Uses - 150 ft. Front – 40 ft. Rear - 20 ft. Side -10 ft. ... RM - Medium Density Residential 15,000 sq. ft. Other Us...
Structure Height Limits
In unincorporated Rutherford County, the maximum building height is 35 feet in the AR, RL, and RM residential districts (45 feet in RMF Multi-Family). Accessory structures also may not exceed the district height, typically 35 feet.
Building Height Limits in Rutherford County, TN
Some RestrictionsRutherford County Zoning Ordinance §1101 G (Table 1: 35 ft. residential)
The height limitations contained in the district regulations do not apply to spires, belfries, cupolas, water tanks, ventilators, chimneys, or other appurtenances usually required to be placed above the roof level and not intended for human occupancy.
Lot Coverage Limits
Unincorporated Rutherford County caps how much of a lot a building can cover by district: 20% for residential uses in the AR and RL districts and 40% flat in the RM district, per Table 1 of Zoning Ordinance Section 404. Detached accessory buildings count toward that same cap under Section 1101 D.
Max Lot Coverage in Rutherford County, TN
Some RestrictionsRutherford County Zoning Ordinance § 404, Table 1; § 1101 D.3-D.4
3. The total area of structures including all detached accessory structures shall not exceed the maximum lot coverage allowed by the zoning district; 4. For all permitted residential uses, detached accessory buildings incidental to a permitted use shall be limited in size based on the table below. Square footage measurements of detached accessory structures shall include the entire structure, i...
Building Setbacks & Zoning by City in Rutherford County
1 cities in Rutherford County have their own building setbacks & zoning rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
All Rutherford County ordinances
See every category we cover for Rutherford County: parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.
Rutherford County Ordinance Hub →