Permit Requirements

Above-Ground Pool permit in Knoxville, TN

Yes — you need a permit for above-ground pool work in Knoxville.

24 inches or more in depth

The numbers
Permit needed? Yes
Where the line falls From 24 in deep
Fee Per Fee Schedule adopted by City Council resolution
Review time Not in the ordinance
Code section IRC R105.2
Based onIRC 2018 as adopted

How to pull the permit

  1. Put together a site plan showing where the work goes, with dimensions.
  2. Apply through the Knoxville 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.

If you skip it

Starting building work before the permit is issued means extra fees on top of the required permit fee (Section 109.4 as amended).

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
Knoxville Yes From 24 in deep
Farragut 14 mi Depends From 24 in deep
Morristown 40 mi Depends Under 24 in deep
Kingsport 87 mi Depends Under 24 in deep
Johnson City 91 mi Depends From 24 in deep
Chattanooga 96 mi Yes From 24 in deep

See every Tennessee city on above-ground pool work

Other work in Knoxville

Questions people ask

How much does a above-ground pool permit cost in Knoxville?

Per Fee Schedule adopted by City Council resolution. Valuation-based fees mean the number depends on what the job is worth, so the department quotes it when you apply.

I already built it without a permit. What now?

Knoxville 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.