Marion County, Tennessee
Sell your land in South Pittsburg for cash
Parcel Buyers buys vacant lots for cash in South Pittsburg, where the city sets zoning, runs water and sewer, and uses the 2012 building code inside the city limits. You get a written, no-obligation cash offer within 24 hours, and closings run through an independent, licensed title company, typically about 10 days after the purchase agreement is signed, with no fees or commissions.
By Parcel Buyers · · Lot figures from the 2026 Tennessee parcel and assessment data · How we made this page
Quick answers
- Who buys land for cash in South Pittsburg?
- Parcel Buyers is a direct land buyer that makes written, no-obligation cash offers on vacant lots and acreage in South Pittsburg, Marion County, usually within 24 hours. Sales close through an independent title company, typically in about 10 days, with no fees or commissions to the seller.
- How many vacant lots are in South Pittsburg?
- The 2026 Tennessee parcel and assessment data lists 258 vacant residential lots in South Pittsburg; 18% are patio-home lots, and the median lot is 0.34 acre.
- How is a cash offer for land in South Pittsburg set?
- We start from recent sales of similar lots nearby, like the 2025 prices on this page, then adjust for water and sewer, road access, flood zone, lot size and any title issues, and for the time and cost of reselling. You get one written number, not a range.
- How do I know a land buyer in South Pittsburg is legitimate?
- A real buyer closes through an independent, licensed title company and never asks you to pay anything up front. We never charge sellers a fee, deposit or closing-cost advance, and the title company pays you by check or wire at closing.
Local data
South Pittsburg land at a glance
Tax-roll figures cover parcels inside the City of South Pittsburg on the Marion County roll in Marion County. Local rules and services are sourced below.
| Vacant residential lots | 258 parcels classified vacant residential on the 2026 Tennessee parcel and assessment data [1] |
|---|---|
| Most common lot size | Patio-home lot (5,000–7,000 sq ft): 18% of vacant lots; next, standard city lot at 11%. Median lot: 0.34 acre (15,010 sq ft). [1] |
| Typical appraised value | $37,500 median appraised value for a vacant lot; the middle half fall between $32,500 and $49,600 [1] |
| Recent lot sale prices | Too few arm's-length vacant-lot sales in 2025 to report a reliable median for South Pittsburg [1] |
| Owners who live elsewhere | 17% of vacant lots have an owner mailing address outside Tennessee (most often FL, GA, AL) [1] |
| What these numbers cover | These figures cover 258 vacant residential parcels inside the City of South Pittsburg on the Marion County roll. The Comptroller publishes that county parcel file. [2] |
| Charter and incorporation | The state directory lists incorporation on February 1, 1901, under Private Acts 1901, chapter 360. The current charter is Private Acts 1992, chapter 213. Its 2026 population estimate is 2,927. [3],[4] |
| Who meets, and when | The city board meets on the second Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. The planning commission meets on the second Thursday at 5:30 p.m. Central. The city is on Central time. [3],[12] |
| R-1 lot size and setbacks | In R-1, a new lot stays at least 7,000 square feet and 50 feet wide. The front setback is 25 feet, the rear yard is 15 feet, and a one- or two-story side yard is 7 feet. A side on a local street is 15 feet. Height is capped at 40 feet. [8] |
| 2012 building codes | The city code adopts the 2012 International Building Code and the 2012 International Residential Code for one- and two-family houses. A copy stays in the city recorder's office. [6] |
| Current water and sewer rates | The utility page lists a current in-town water minimum of $12.02, including 2,000 gallons, and sewer at $5.57 per 1,000 gallons based on all water used. Those figures match year 4 of its August 11, 2022 rate study. [11] |
| Flood maps in the ordinance | The floodplain ordinance adopts FEMA Community ID 475447, panel 0212 dated February 4, 2009, and revised panels 0215 and 0355 dated January 6, 2012. In an AE zone the lowest floor is at least 1 foot above the base flood. [5] |
| Trash cart fee | Ordinance 803, from June 2020, sets a $17 sanitation fee per household for one 96-gallon cart, billed monthly by the water and sewer board. A second cart takes a $100 deposit. The cap is two carts. [10] |
| Interstate 24 | Interstate 24 meets US 72 at Exit 152, the Kimball/South Pittsburg interchange. TDOT said the higher I-24 bridge would let large trucks pass more safely on US 72 and improve I-24 access for Marion County businesses. [13] |
Pricing
What is a lot in South Pittsburg worth?
These are open-market sale prices. A direct cash offer is usually lower, because a cash buyer closes in days and takes on the time and cost of reselling the lot.
What moves the price in South Pittsburg
Too few 2025 lot sales to report a median
There were too few 2025 vacant-lot sales to report a median. On these vacant lots the median appraised value is $37,500, and the middle of those appraisals runs $32,500–$49,600. Appraised value is the assessor's market appraisal. It is not the taxable assessment, and it is not a cash price. About 17% of the mailing addresses are outside Tennessee. Florida addresses are the largest out-of-state group. Most owners still use a Tennessee address. These figures cover 258 vacant residential parcels inside the city on the Marion County roll. The Comptroller publishes the county parcel file and updates it weekly. This county is in that file. A missing median is not a price quote, and these are lot sales, not every deed recorded in 2025. [2]
Patio-home lots and the R-1 size rules
A patio-home lot is the most common vacant lot, about 18% of them. The median lot is larger, at 0.34 acres (15,010 square feet). Zoning was adopted under Tennessee Code Annotated sections 13-7-201 through 13-7-210 and amended through July 6, 2021. In R-1 a single-family house is allowed, and a single-wide manufactured home is not. A new lot may not be cut below 7,000 square feet and must be at least 50 feet wide. The front setback is 25 feet. The rear yard is 15 feet for the house and 5 feet for an accessory building. A one- or two-story side yard is 7 feet, and a side on a local street is 15 feet. Height is capped at 40 feet. An older lot under 7,000 square feet can still hold one house if it is at least 5,000 square feet and has public water and sewer. [8],[2]
City water and sewer, with current posted rates
The city supplies water, sewer, gas, and garbage. The utility page labels its posted rates current and also prints an August 11, 2022 rate study. The current in-town table lists a $12.02 water minimum including 2,000 gallons, then $3.74 per 1,000 gallons from 2,001 to 17,000 gallons. It lists sewer at $5.57 per 1,000 gallons based on 100% of water use. Those figures match year 4 of the study, which began at $10.28 for water and $4.76 for sewer and increased 4 percent annually. On a new subdivision with public water, the rules require six-inch mains and say no lot may be more than 500 feet from a fire hydrant. If any part of the tract abuts a public sewer, sewers must serve the whole tract. [11],[9],[3]
Building permits use the 2012 codes
Inside the city, a one- or two-family house follows the 2012 International Residential Code, and other buildings follow the 2012 International Building Code. Ordinance 776, in July 2017, placed that 2012 building code in the municipal code, with the 2012 plumbing code and the 2012 energy code. A copy must stay in the recorder's office under Tennessee Code Annotated section 6-54-502. No utility may connect a new building until the owner shows a building permit signed by the building inspector. The planning commission has seven members under section 13-4-101, including the mayor or the mayor's designee and one city commissioner. It meets on the second Thursday at 5:30 p.m. Central. The board of mayor and commissioners, a mayor and four commissioners, meets on the second Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. Selling the lot vacant skips that permit. [6],[5],[12],[3],[4],[10]
Flood rules on low ground, not on every lot
Flood rules apply in a mapped special flood hazard area, not on every vacant lot. The floodplain ordinance keeps the city in the National Flood Insurance Program and adopts FEMA Community ID 475447, panel 0212 dated February 4, 2009, and revised panels 0215 and 0355 dated January 6, 2012. In an AE zone the lowest floor, basement included, must be at least 1 foot above the base flood elevation. With no base flood elevation, the floor must be at least 3 feet above the highest adjacent grade. That work needs a development permit. Subdivision rules, adopted in September 1994 and printed as current on March 14, 2005, still treat land below the regional flood or the TVA structure profile as flood land. They name community number 47012, dated July 4, 1989, plus later revisions. New roads in a flood area must sit 1 foot above the 100-year flood. [5],[9]
Common situations
Selling land in South Pittsburg in these situations
No water or sewer tap on the lot
You can sell a vacant lot here even if it has no city water or sewer tap. You do not have to pay for a main, a hydrant, or a sewer extension before a cash sale. We buy vacant lots and land for cash, including lots with no water, sewer, or road work. For a building, city code treats sewer as available when a public sewer main lies in an easement, right-of-way, road, or public access way that abuts the property. After official notice, the owner has 60 days to connect. If sewer is not available, the building uses a private system under state rules. A new conventional septic permit from the state is $400 up to 1,000 gallons a day, plus a $100 inspection. Subdivision rules still say a lot with neither public water nor public sewer must be at least 20,000 square feet, with the tank and well at least 100 feet apart. [10],[7],[9]
You do not want to pull a building permit
You can sell the lot vacant if you do not want to build under the city codes. A one- or two-family house, and a townhouse not more than three stories, is under the 2012 International Residential Code. Other buildings are under the 2012 International Building Code. The city building inspector signs the permit that a utility must see before it connects a new building. The only contingency is our land inspection, and a failed inspection costs the seller nothing. Zoning still applies to the land after a sale. In R-1 the front of the house must face a dedicated local street that can take an E911 address. An empty lot does not have to meet that rule until someone builds. We cover closing costs. Liens or back taxes can be paid from the sale proceeds at closing, with the seller's consent. [6],[8],[10]
The lot may be in a mapped flood area
A mapped flood area does not stop a cash sale of a vacant lot. You do not have to elevate a house, pull a development permit, or add fill before you sell. The floodplain ordinance applies when someone builds in a special flood hazard area. In an AE zone the lowest floor must be at least 1 foot above the base flood elevation. In an approximate A zone with no base flood elevation, the floor must be at least 3 feet above the highest adjacent grade. The ordinance does not promise that land outside those areas will stay dry, and it does not make the city liable for flood damage. The older subdivision sheet still treats land below the regional flood or the TVA structure profile as flood land, using the July 4, 1989 map it names, plus later revisions. For a building, use the floodplain ordinance and the panels it adopts, dated February 4, 2009, and January 6, 2012. [5],[9]
You live outside Tennessee
You can sell from outside Tennessee without attending a city meeting. About 17% of the owners have a mailing address outside Tennessee, and Florida addresses are the largest out-of-state group. Papers can be signed electronically and finished by mail, and you can be paid by check or wire. We check utilities, access, and title on every parcel before offering. The state directory lists 204 West 3rd Street as the address for city officials. A mail-away closing does not require a trip there. The planning commission meets on the second Thursday at 5:30 p.m. Central when a future owner needs a plat. The city board meets on the second Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. Those calendars are for city business, not for signing a sale. [3],[2],[12]
Step by step
How do I sell my land in South Pittsburg?
From your first message to money in hand, with nothing left out. Requesting an offer costs nothing and commits you to nothing.
See every detail of the process-
Tell us about your land
Fill out the short form (about 60 seconds) or email us. A land specialist reaches out to confirm the details, usually the same business day.
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Get your cash offer within 24 hours
We review the property and send a written, no-obligation cash offer within 24 hours. It is a real number, not a range. Take it or leave it, with no pressure either way.
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Sign electronically
If you accept, everyone signs the purchase agreement electronically. There is nothing to print or mail at this stage.
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We inspect, the title company verifies
Our team inspects the land and an independent title company runs a title search for liens or taxes owed. If the land does not pass inspection, you are never charged anything.
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Close and get paid
The title company prepares the closing documents for notarization and issues your funds by standard check, overnight check, or wire transfer. A typical sale closes in 10 days.
Questions
Selling land in South Pittsburg: common questions
Can I sell my lot in South Pittsburg if it has no water or sewer?
Yes. A vacant lot can be sold with no city water tap and no sewer tap. You do not have to install six-inch water mains or a fire hydrant before you sell. Those rules apply when someone subdivides. If a public sewer main already abuts the property, a house would have to connect, but that is a building rule, not a rule for selling the land. Where sewer does not abut the lot, a private system needs a state construction permit.
Does an empty lot get a monthly trash or water bill?
The cited charges are household or utility-service charges, not a stated tax on every empty parcel. The $17 sanitation fee is per household for one 96-gallon cart, billed monthly by the water and sewer board. City code requires each single-family, duplex, and triplex dwelling to use city trash service. The utility page lists the current in-town water minimum as $12.02, including 2,000 gallons, and sewer at $5.57 per 1,000 gallons based on all water used. Confirm account status with the city for a specific lot.
What building code applies if I build a house inside the city?
A one- or two-family house uses the 2012 International Residential Code. Other buildings use the 2012 International Building Code. Ordinance 776, in July 2017, put the 2012 building code in the municipal code. The city recorder keeps a copy for the public. A utility cannot hook up a new building until the building inspector has signed a permit. R-1 setbacks still apply: 25 feet in front, 15 feet in the rear, and 7 feet on the side for a one- or two-story house.
Do flood rules apply to every vacant lot in South Pittsburg?
No. They apply in special flood hazard areas mapped for the National Flood Insurance Program. The floodplain ordinance adopts Community ID 475447, with panel 0212 dated February 4, 2009, and revised panels dated January 6, 2012. In an AE zone the lowest floor must be at least 1 foot above the base flood elevation. The subdivision regulations still name a July 4, 1989 map, community number 47012, and any later revisions. A vacant-lot sale does not require you to raise the ground.
Can I use a septic system if city sewer does not reach the lot?
Yes, if public sewer is not available. City code says sewer is available when a public main abuts the property in an easement, right-of-way, road, or public access way. If it does not, the building sewer connects to a private system under state rules until public sewer is available. A new conventional permit from the state environment department is $400 up to 1,000 gallons a day, and the construction inspection is $100. Review generally takes 10 days and must finish within 45 days. Nine contract counties may require an extra local permit. Marion County is not on that list.
What if my lot is smaller than 7,000 square feet?
An older lot of record can still be a house site if it meets the size and utility tests. In R-1, a lot that was already under 7,000 square feet when the zoning ordinance was adopted may hold one single-family house if it has public water and sanitary sewer and is at least 5,000 square feet. It must also be at least 50 feet wide at the building setback line. A patio-home lot is the most common vacant lot here, so this size rule is the one to read before you assume the lot cannot be built on.
Owner resources
Guides for your situation
- Can You Build on a Vacant Lot?
Maybe. A vacant lot is buildable only if the proposed use fits the rules that apply to that parcel and the site can satisfy access, utility, environmental, and permit requirements. Start with the local planning or zoning office, confirm that the parcel is a legal lot, and get a written parcel-specific answer. A zoning label or tax parcel number alone is not approval to build.[1][2]
- How to Sell Land in a Flood Zone
Flood-zone land can be sellable and sometimes buildable. A FEMA flood zone describes mapped risk; it is not a building permit. The buyer must verify the current effective Flood Insurance Rate Map and any map changes, then ask the local floodplain administrator what elevation, floodway, coastal, permit, and design rules apply.[1][2][4] Vacant land itself is not covered by an NFIP policy; flood insurance covers qualifying buildings and contents, not land value.[5][6]
- Can You Sell Land With a Lien?
Yes. Land with a lien can often be sold, but signing a deed does not by itself erase a valid claim. The lien may need to be paid, released, discharged, or otherwise resolved under the law that applies. With the seller's consent, an approved payoff can come from sale proceeds at closing. If the balance or lien is wrong, dispute it before closing and require proof of the cure.
More places in Marion County
Your written offer
Get your cash offer
Four short steps, about 60 seconds. We review your property and send a written, no-obligation cash offer within 24 hours. You can take it or leave it.
What happens after you send this
- A land specialist reaches out, usually the same business day, to confirm the details.
- You get a written cash offer within 24 hours: a real number, not a range.
- You decide. Requesting an offer costs nothing and commits you to nothing.
You will never be asked to pay us anything. No deposit, no processing fee, no closing-cost advance.
Nearby areas we buy
- Jasper
210 vacant lots
- Jasper Highlands
678 vacant lots · 2025 median lot sale $140,000
- Marion County
6,206 vacant lots countywide
How we made this page
Parcel Buyers is a land-buying company based in Florida. We buy vacant land directly from owners and publish these local pages so owners can see what land in their area is doing before they sell, to us or anyone else. We count the tax-roll figures ourselves from state data, take local rules and fees from the official sources listed below, and use AI tools to help research and draft the text. Every number links to its source, and we update the page when the data changes.
Method and sources
Parcel and assessment figures cover parcels inside the City of South Pittsburg on the Marion County roll. Source [1] is our own count of the Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury's county parcel and assessment files (assessment data dated August 28, 2026): a vacant lot is a residential parcel with no buildings, mobile home or improvement value; values are the county assessor's appraised (market) value; sale prices count only 2025 warranty-deed sales of a single lot that was vacant when it sold, at $1,000 or more, with bulk deeds and development-land deals removed. Treat medians as a guide to recent recorded amounts, not as an offer or an appraisal. Page updated October 2, 2026.
- [1] Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury (data); Parcel Buyers (analysis), Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury, Office of Local Government parcel and assessment data (accessed 2026-10-01)
- [2] Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury, Tennessee Comptroller parcel and assessment data (accessed 2026-10-02)
- [3] UT Municipal Technical Advisory Service, Municipal directory: charter, utilities, and population (accessed 2026-10-02)
- [4] UT Municipal Technical Advisory Service, Private Acts 1992, chapter 213 city charter (accessed 2026-10-02)
- [5] UT Municipal Technical Advisory Service, Title 14, planning commission and floodplain ordinance (accessed 2026-10-02)
- [6] UT Municipal Technical Advisory Service, Title 12, 2012 building and residential codes (accessed 2026-10-02)
- [7] Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, Septic system construction permit fees and review time (accessed 2026-10-02)
- [8] City of South Pittsburg, Zoning ordinance amended through July 6, 2021 (accessed 2026-10-02)
- [9] City of South Pittsburg, Subdivision regulations, printed March 14, 2005 (accessed 2026-10-02)
- [10] City of South Pittsburg, Municipal code, sanitation fee and sewer connection (accessed 2026-10-02)
- [11] South Pittsburg Board of Water Works and Sewers, Water and sewer rates page with the 2022 study (accessed 2026-10-02)
- [12] Southeast Tennessee Development, Planning commission schedule and zoning links (accessed 2026-10-02)
- [13] Tennessee Department of Transportation, I-24 Exit 152 Kimball and South Pittsburg interchange (accessed 2026-10-02)