Deck permit in Knoxville, TN
It depends — some deck work in Knoxville needs a permit, some doesn't.
A deck skips the building permit only if it meets every condition at once: 200 square feet or less, no more than 30 inches above grade at any point, not attached to the house, and not serving the required exit door. An attached deck, or one that misses any of those limits, needs a permit, and zoning approval still applies.
| Permit needed? | Depends on size |
|---|---|
| Where the line falls | Over 200 sq ft |
| Fee | Building permit fees are set in the city Fee Schedule adopted by City Council resolution; the code lists no fixed amount. |
| Review time | Not in the ordinance |
| Code section | IRC R105.2 (Knoxville amends via Sec. 6-54 to still require zoning approval) |
| Based on | Tennessee-adopted IRC 2018, as amended by City of Knoxville |
How to pull the permit
- Put together a site plan showing where the work goes, with dimensions.
- Apply through the Knoxville building department.
- Pay the permit fee when the permit is issued. Work done before that isn't covered.
- 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).
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.
| City | Distance | Permit? | Where the line falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Knoxville | — | Depends | Over 200 sq ft |
| Farragut | 14 mi | Depends | Over 200 sq ft |
| Morristown | 40 mi | Depends | Over 200 sq ft |
| Kingsport | 87 mi | Depends | Over 120 sq ft |
| Johnson City | 91 mi | Depends | Over 200 sq ft |
| Chattanooga | 96 mi | Depends | Over 200 sq ft |
Other work in Knoxville
Questions people ask
My deck 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?
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.