Sullivan County, TN Right to Farm: Agricultural Zoning Protection (2026)
Key Facts
- State authority
- Tenn. Code § 13-7-114
- Applies in
- Unincorporated Sullivan County only
- Exempt from
- Building permits for farm structures
- Grading exemption
- Cites Tenn. Right to Farm Act § 43-26-103
- Enforced by
- County Building Commissioner
- Penalty if misapplied
- Up to $500 per day
Summary
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 structure incidental to an agricultural enterprise or used solely for agricultural purposes, tracking Tennessee Code Section 13-7-114. A parallel grading-permit exemption at Section 8-103.3(3) names the Tennessee Right to Farm Act directly. The protection covers unincorporated Sullivan County only.
12-102.1.3 Agricultural Uses of the Land - As stipulated in Section 13-7-114, Tennessee Code, nothing within this resolution shall be construed as authorizing the requirement neither for building permits nor for providing for the regulation of the erection, construction, or reconstruction of any building or other structure where such building or structure is incidental to an agricultural enterprise or solely used for agricultural purposes. ... 8-103.3.3 Agricultural Uses - Farming or other accepted agricultural uses, as identified in the Tennessee Right to Farm Act (T.C.A. § 43-26-103), or as hereafter amended.
Full Breakdown
1 opens by making building permits mandatory for construction, excavation and structural alteration county-wide. Subpart 3 of that same section carves out agriculture: 'nothing within this resolution shall be construed as authorizing the requirement neither for building permits nor for providing for the regulation of the erection, construction, or reconstruction of any building or other structure where such building or structure is incidental to an agricultural enterprise or solely used for agricultural purposes,' tying the exemption to Tennessee Code Section 13-7-114, the state law limiting county zoning authority over farm buildings.
§ 43-26-103)' from the land-disturbance permit that otherwise applies before grading begins. 1, list preserving 'adequate space for agricultural and forestry activities' and limiting 'the encroachment of non-farm activities into areas utilized for agriculture and forestry' as the first goal of the A-5, A-2 and A-1 agricultural districts. None of this reaches Kingsport, Bristol or Bluff City: Sullivan County's zoning jurisdiction stops at each city's Urban Growth Boundary, and each city administers its own zoning and building-permit code inside its limits.
Violations & Fines
The exemption only covers structures genuinely incidental to farming; if the Building Commissioner determines a structure does not qualify, normal permitting applies and Section 12-107.2 governs enforcement: building without a required permit is a misdemeanor punished as provided by law, with each day of noncompliance a separate offense and a civil penalty up to $500 per offense. Section 12-107.3 lets the Building Commissioner or an affected neighbor seek an injunction to stop or correct unpermitted construction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a county permit to build a barn on my Sullivan County farm?
Does this exemption apply if my farm is inside Kingsport or Bristol city limits?
Does grading a farm field require a county permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Sullivan County
Compare Sullivan County to another location·View the Tennessee right to farm overview
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