Permit Requirements

Fence permit in Farragut, TN

It depends — some fence work in Farragut needs a permit, some doesn't.

over 7 feet tall

The numbers
Permit needed? Depends on size
Where the line falls Over 7 ft tall
Fee Not in the ordinance — the department quotes it
Review time Not in the ordinance
Code section IRC R105.2
Based onIRC 2018 as amended

How to pull the permit

  1. Put together a site plan showing where the work goes, with dimensions.
  2. Apply through the Farragut building department.
  3. Pay the permit fee when the permit is issued. Work done before that isn't covered.
  4. Book each inspection listed on the permit as the job reaches that stage.

Either of you can pull it. When a contractor does the work, it is normally their job.

If you skip it

Farragut's code doesn't set a specific fine for this work. In practice the department can issue a stop-work order, and unpermitted work tends to surface during a sale, when the buyer's inspector or the title company asks for it.

Already built it? How retroactive permits work

Nearby cities, same job

Rules stop at the city line. If your lot is near a boundary, or you work across several towns, this is where they differ.

CityDistance Permit?Where the line falls
Farragut Depends Over 7 ft tall
Knoxville 14 mi Depends Over 7 ft tall
Morristown 54 mi Depends Over 7 ft tall
Chattanooga 82 mi Depends Over 7 ft tall
Kingsport 101 mi Depends Over 8 ft tall
Johnson City 105 mi Depends Over 7 ft tall

See every Tennessee city on fence work

Other work in Farragut

Questions people ask

My fence is right at the limit. Does that count?

The exemption has to fit exactly — if the code says a size or height, being at or under it keeps you exempt, and going a single inch over doesn't. When you're close to the line, measure before you buy materials, and call the department if the number is borderline.

I already built it without a permit. What now?

Farragut can issue a stop-work order and require you to apply after the fact, sometimes with an extra fee. Work that was covered up may have to be opened for inspection. Full walkthrough here.

Does unpermitted work cause problems when selling the house?

Often, yes. A buyer's inspector or the title company may flag it, and lenders can balk at financing a home with open or missing permits. What to do about it.