Roof Replacement permit in Nashville, TN
Yes — you need a permit for roof replacement work in Nashville.
Repairs to an existing roof count as normal maintenance and skip a building permit only up to 33 percent of the roof area. Replacing or re-covering the whole roof goes past that 33 percent limit, so a full reroof needs a building permit.
| Permit needed? | Yes |
|---|---|
| Where the line falls | Over 33 |
| Fee | Residential building permit fee is $5.00 per $1,000 of total valuation (16.28.110.A.1). |
| Review time | Not in the ordinance |
| Code section | 16.28.030 (Normal maintenance repair—Permits not required), with the 33% roof definition in 16.08.012.D |
| Based on | 2024 IRC for One- and Two-Family Dwellings as amended by Metro Nashville |
How to pull the permit
- Put together a site plan showing where the work goes, with dimensions.
- Apply through the Nashville 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.
Either of you can pull it. When a contractor does the work, it is normally their job.
If you skip it
Nashville'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.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville | — | Yes | Over 33 |
| Goodlettsville | 12 mi | Depends | re-roofing (re-covering an existing roof) is defined as n… |
| Brentwood | 12 mi | Yes | No size threshold in the code |
| Hendersonville | 14 mi | Yes | No size threshold in the code |
| Mount Juliet | 15 mi | Yes | No size threshold in the code |
| Nolensville | 16 mi | Depends | Roof covering replacement that does not involve the repla… |
Other work in Nashville
Questions people ask
How much does a roof replacement permit cost in Nashville?
Residential building permit fee is $5.00 per $1,000 of total valuation (16.28.110.A.1).. 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?
Nashville 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.