Tennessee building departments
Find local permit offices, inspection services, and official resources across Tennessee.
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How permitting works in Tennessee
State residential program or exempt local program. Tennessee homes are permitted either by a city or county with its own exempt code program or, where none exists and the area has not opted out, through the State Fire Marshal's residential permit program with state-contracted inspectors.
A county name is only a geographic starting point. Depending on the address, a city, town, borough, township, or county office may issue your permit. How to check who issues your permit.
Tennessee building codes and licensing
- Residential code
- 2018 IRC and 2018 IECC under the State Fire Marshal's residential program; cities and counties with exempt local programs adopt their own editions
- Adopted by
- Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance, State Fire Marshal's Office (opens in a new tab)
- Outside city limits
- Where a city or county has neither an exemption for enforcing its own codes nor a two-thirds vote to opt out, one- and two-family homes and townhouses need a state residential permit bought through the CORE system, and state-contracted inspectors do the inspections.
- Contractor licensing
- A contractor license is required to bid or contract for projects of $25,000 or more. In Bradley, Davidson, Hamilton, Haywood, Knox, Marion, Robertson, Rutherford, and Shelby counties, a home improvement license is also required for residential remodeling from $3,000 to $24,999. Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors (opens in a new tab)
What is different in Tennessee
- Under the state program, additions over 30 square feet need a permit, but detached garages, sheds, barns, and other detached structures not used for living do not.
- State inspections cover the foundation before the pour, framing and rough-in (including plumbing and mechanical), and final. One re-inspection is free; additional ones cost extra.
- A homeowner may get a state permit to build their own residence if it will not be sold or leased and they have not held a homeowner building permit in the prior 24 months.
- Fire sprinklers are not required in one- and two-family homes or townhouses; townhouses must instead be separated by 2-hour fire walls.
Tennessee department guides
Browse Tennessee counties
Anderson CountyBedford CountyBenton CountyBledsoe CountyBlount CountyBradley CountyCampbell CountyCannon CountyCarroll CountyCarter CountyCheatham CountyChester CountyClaiborne CountyClay CountyCocke CountyCoffee CountyCrockett CountyCumberland CountyDavidson CountyDecatur CountyDeKalb CountyDickson CountyDyer CountyFayette CountyFentress CountyFranklin CountyGibson CountyGiles CountyGrainger CountyGreene CountyGrundy CountyHamblen CountyHamilton CountyHancock CountyHardeman CountyHardin CountyHawkins CountyHaywood CountyHenderson CountyHenry CountyHickman CountyHouston CountyHumphreys CountyJackson CountyJefferson CountyJohnson CountyKnox CountyLake CountyLauderdale CountyLawrence CountyLewis CountyLincoln CountyLoudon CountyMcMinn CountyMcNairy CountyMacon CountyMadison CountyMarion CountyMarshall CountyMaury CountyMeigs CountyMonroe CountyMontgomery CountyMoore CountyMorgan CountyObion CountyOverton CountyPerry CountyPickett CountyPolk CountyPutnam CountyRhea CountyRoane CountyRobertson CountyRutherford CountyScott CountySequatchie CountySevier CountyShelby CountySmith CountyStewart CountySullivan CountySumner CountyTipton CountyTrousdale CountyUnicoi CountyUnion CountyVan Buren CountyWarren CountyWashington CountyWayne CountyWeakley CountyWhite CountyWilliamson CountyWilson County
Planning a project in Tennessee?
Start with what the model codes say, then confirm local rules with the department that serves your address.