Sullivan County, TN Ordinances (2026)

Sullivan County confines adult entertainment establishments to an Adult Entertainment Overlay District that can only sit on top of M-2 Heavy Manufacturing zoning, and imposes a…

Sullivan County exempts non-commercial seasonal holiday displays from the Zoning Resolution's sign permit process. Section 9-111.8 protects decorations tied to a national, local, or…

Sullivan County allows one electronic message board on a freestanding sign in B-3, B-4, PBD, and PBD-3 districts, or at a church, school, or emergency-services facility. Section 9-109…

Sullivan County exempts interior window signs from the Zoning Resolution's sign permit process, but only if the sign consists entirely of letters, numerals, and symbols. Section…

Sullivan County caps residential buildings at 3 stories or 50 feet across every agricultural and residential district on Table 3-103B, unless the local fire department approves greater…

Sullivan County dropped its lot-coverage cap on houses in 2005, but accessory structures still face two limits: Table 3-103B caps any single accessory building at 10% of the lot in…

Sullivan County sets a 30-foot front setback in nearly every agricultural and residential district under Table 3-103B, with side setbacks tightening to as little as 10 feet in R-2/R-2A…

In Sullivan County's unincorporated manufacturing districts, a driveway can cover no more than 50 percent of any required front, side or rear yard under Zoning Resolution Section…

Sullivan County's Zoning Resolution bars using a camper, RV, or other vehicle as a permanent residence or storage building anywhere in the unincorporated county. Under Section 8-105…

Sullivan County's Zoning Resolution outright bans keeping an inoperable vehicle, whole or in parts, outside in any residential or planned district. Section 8-106 requires that any…

Sullivan County's Zoning Resolution requires off-street loading berths at least 12 feet wide and 55 feet long, with 15 feet of vertical clearance, growing to 65 feet where…

In unincorporated Sullivan County, a permit from the Building Commissioner is required before excavating, building, filling, or altering any structure within a flood prone area. The…

Sullivan County requires a grading permit for land-disturbing activity in the unincorporated county under Section 8-103.2, and Section 8-103.7 sets hard deadlines: denuded ground must…

Sullivan County requires a stormwater management plan for qualifying development in the unincorporated county under Section 8-103.10 of the Zoning Resolution, holding post-development…

Inside an approved Open Space Residential Development, Sullivan County bars clearing any tree over six inches in caliper on the common ownership amenity land that sits outside the…

In unincorporated Sullivan County, a detached shed or accessory structure must sit at least eight feet off the side and rear property lines, and all accessory structures on a lot…

Sullivan County generally limits a lot to one principal structure, but Section 3-103.6(5) carves out Accessory Dwelling Units as an exception, added October 18, 2018. Table 3-102A…

Sullivan County caps how much light from a commercial or manufacturing use can reach next-door residential land at four foot-candles under Section 8-102.4(2)(a) of the Zoning…

Sullivan County's Zoning Resolution requires all site lighting in commercial and manufacturing districts, and at community facilities anywhere in the county, to be shielded so…

Sullivan County splits home businesses into two zoning tiers on Table 3-102A. A Minor Home Occupation is a Section 3-102.3 'Use Permitted with Supplemental Provisions,' needing only…

Sullivan County's use table draws the line for home daycare at four children. Table 3-102A classifies 'In-Home Day Care' with fewer than four unrelated children as a Minor Home…

Sullivan County's Zoning Resolution exempts farm buildings from zoning permits altogether. Section 12-102.1, Subpart 3 says no building permit or construction regulation applies to any…

Sullivan County allows privacy walls and fences up to 8 feet tall, measured from finish grade, in any yard, but corner lots carry an added restriction: nothing between 3 and 10 feet…