Chattanooga Building Department | Permits, Inspections & Contact

The City of Chattanooga Land Development Office administers building permits, building plans review, building inspections, zoning review, land-disturbing permits, and code enforcement within Chattanooga city limits. Hamilton County and other municipalities have separate processes, so a parcel outside the city should be directed to the authority serving that address.

Chattanooga building permits and OpenGov

Chattanooga’s official permit directory links applicants to residential and commercial building applications, certificates of occupancy, building-code compliance letters, zoning appeals, and related services. The residential building permit instructions direct applicants to the City’s OpenGov portal: create an account or sign in, choose “Apply Online,” select the project type, and submit the required plans, contractor information, Tennessee license information, business license, and insurance documentation.

The City requires a Tennessee contractor license for the applicable work, although owner-builder exceptions can apply to qualifying personal residences and other individual-use projects. Review the current application page for the exact project category and documentation before submitting.

Chattanooga inspections and occupancy

The Land Development Office lists building permit plans review and building permit inspections under the Building Plans Review division at (423) 643-5894. The city’s inspection process is integrated into the permit record; applicants should look for the inspection step in the specific record and contact the LDO if it is missing. Final approvals, including applicable certificate-of-occupancy or compliance steps, depend on passing the required inspections and completing all agency conditions.

Chattanooga zoning and plan review

The city’s Land Development Office includes zoning plans review, floodplain management, historic zoning, form-based code, and the Board of Zoning Appeals. Confirm the parcel’s zoning and development requirements before selecting a permit type. Chattanooga also maintains a current zoning-code transition notice and project-specific instructions for land-disturbing work.

Official contact information

Chattanooga’s Land Development Office lists (423) 643-5894 for building permits, plans review, and inspections. The LDO page also lists (423) 643-5891 for zoning review and (423) 643-7307 for code enforcement. Use the City’s official permit directory and OpenGov portal for current forms, fees, and application status.