TNBuilding permits in Tennessee
Permit rules are set city by city. Pick yours below to see which projects need a permit, where the size cutoffs fall, and how to apply.
Cities covered
23
Projects each
17
What applies everywhere in Tennessee
Tennessee runs a statewide building code, so the starting point is the same in every city: International Residential Code, принятый Теннесси, 2018. Its R105.2 Work Exempt From Permit section lists the work that needs no permit at all.
A city can tighten or loosen that list with its own ordinance, and many do — which is why two towns an hour apart can give you opposite answers. Where a city has changed the rule, its page says so.
Compare all cities on one job
Useful if you build across town lines: one table per project type, showing where every city in Tennessee draws the line.
- Fence 23 cities
- Deck 23 cities
- Shed 23 cities
- Swimming Pool 23 cities
- Roof Replacement 23 cities
- Water Heater 23 cities
- HVAC Replacement 23 cities
- Electrical Panel 23 cities
- Demolition 23 cities
- Driveway 23 cities
- Tree Removal 23 cities
- Sign 23 cities
- Short-Term Rental 23 cities
- ADU (Accessory Dwelling Unit) 23 cities
- Garage 23 cities
- Basement 23 cities
- Above-Ground Pool 23 cities
Cities
- Nashville 705k
- Memphis 611k
- Knoxville 199k
- Chattanooga 191k
- Clarksville 186k
- Murfreesboro 168k
- Franklin 89k
- Johnson City 74k
- Jackson 69k
- Hendersonville 64k
- Smyrna 60k
- Kingsport 57k
- Gallatin 52k
- Brentwood 46k
- Mount Juliet 44k
- La Vergne 41k
- Germantown 40k
- Morristown 33k
- Bristol 28k
- Farragut 25k
- Springfield 20k
- Goodlettsville 17k
- Nolensville 16k