Hardscaping in Chapel Hill

Who handles permits in Chapel Hill?

Probably Marshall County’s Building and Codes office, which third-party listings put at 206 Legion Ave., Suite A, in Lewisburg, 931-359-0567. A 2014 letter from MTAS, the University of Tennessee’s municipal advisory service, says the town is not an exempt jurisdiction for permits. Neither is a final answer, so we confirm with the town and the county before plans are filed.

Tennessee’s 811 law applies either way, with locate notice due at least 3 working days before the first shovel.

When does a yard need a retaining wall?

When you want flat ground where the yard isn’t flat. A retaining wall holds back the high side so a patio, a pool deck or a walkway can sit level, and it carries drainage behind it so water doesn’t push it over. Wall heights, steps and the base are sized once the site visit measures the fall.

A wall can also be the edge of something: seat height around a fire pit, or the back of a covered seating area.

What goes into a hardscape plan?

The layout of every hard surface and wall, the base under each, and the slope of each surface. It shows where water goes, where steps fall and where a pool or kitchen could go later. With it, a Chapel Hill project can be built all at once or in stages without redoing work. Ask about financing if the stages are about budget.

What is nearby?

Henry Horton State Park runs along the Duck River, and the Forrest Boyhood Home is local history. Chapel Hill is also close to College Grove and Christiana, both towns we work in.