The Town of Baileyton Board of Mayor and Aldermen discussed updating its campground ordinance to ensure permanent residents are counted as citizens of Baileyton during a workshop Thursday night.
Baileyton Mayor Jamie Tilson said that a campground in the town has long-term residents that are living in campers and should be considered permanent residents in Baileyton. An increase in Baileyton’s population would result in the town receiving a higher share of sales tax and fuel tax revenues.
Tilson explained the matter to First Tennessee Development District Community Panner Daniel Campbell during the workshop.
Jamie Tilson
Campbell said he would review the matter and explore what could be done to address the issue through municipal codes. He also noted that Mountain City and Jonesborough had also taken similar action involving campgrounds recently.
Tilson said he had no issue with people living permanently in the campgrounds as long as they were counted as citizens of Baileyton. Baileyton does not have a property tax.
County Crackdown
Baileyton is the latest local government to focus on those living in campgrounds.
In August 2025, the Greene County Commission approved changes to its zoning ordinance to collect property taxes from those in living in campgrounds on a permanent basis.
According to the ordinance, if a person establishes residency in a campground for a period longer than 90 days then the County Property Assessor will assess their lot in the campground when assessing the campground property as a whole. A property tax bill, which would include the “improvements” made to lots with permanent campers, is then to be delivered to the campground property owner. The owner is responsible for paying the property tax bill, and it is the responsibility of the property owner to collect funds to pay the property tax bill from permanent campers if so desired.
