Building Permits in Tennessee
Tennessee statewide rules
These state rules apply everywhere in the state. Cities and counties may add stricter local rules — open your city below.
- Local changes allowed
- Yes source: tn.gov
- Issued by
- Tennessee State Fire Marshal’s Office source: tn.gov
- Building code
- 2018 International Residential Code (IRC) and 2018 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) source: tn.gov
Shed
- Exempt from a permit
- Detached garages, sheds, barns or other detached structures that are not used for living purposes are exempt from the state residential building permit source: tn.gov
- Permit required
- No source: tn.gov
Deck
- Conditions
- Permit needed for custom site work such as a deck, porch or stoop built next to a manufactured or modular home source: tn.gov
Home Addition
- Permit required
- Yes source: tn.gov
- Size limit (sq ft)
- 30 source: tn.gov
Cities
- Nashville704,963 residents
- Memphis610,919 residents
- Knoxville198,722 residents
- Chattanooga191,496 residents
- Clarksville185,690 residents
- Murfreesboro168,387 residents
- Franklin89,142 residents
- Johnson City73,635 residents
- Jackson69,303 residents
- Hendersonville63,947 residents
- Smyrna60,302 residents
- Spring Hill59,398 residents
- Kingsport57,109 residents
- Bartlett56,708 residents
- Gallatin52,489 residents
- Collierville51,951 residents
- Lebanon51,501 residents
- Cleveland50,232 residents
- Columbia48,812 residents
- Brentwood45,525 residents
- Mount Juliet44,066 residents
- La Vergne41,430 residents
- Germantown40,128 residents
- Cookeville37,102 residents
- Oak Ridge34,039 residents
- Morristown32,994 residents
- Maryville32,373 residents
- Bristol27,867 residents
- Shelbyville25,792 residents
- Farragut25,242 residents
- East Ridge21,970 residents
- Tullahoma21,035 residents
- Springfield19,842 residents
- Sevierville18,231 residents
- Goodlettsville17,433 residents
- Dickson16,878 residents
- White House16,463 residents
- Greeneville15,979 residents
- Dyersburg15,915 residents
- Nolensville15,809 residents
- Arlington15,550 residents
- Athens15,050 residents
- Elizabethton14,461 residents
- Lakeland14,416 residents
- McMinnville14,032 residents
- Portland13,651 residents
- Alcoa13,588 residents
- Manchester13,484 residents
- Lewisburg13,473 residents
- Soddy-Daisy13,430 residents
- Crossville12,785 residents
- Hartsville/Trousdale County12,159 residents
- Lawrenceburg12,112 residents
- Red Bank12,073 residents
- Lenoir City12,041 residents
- Collegedale11,510 residents
- Millington11,486 residents
- Martin10,989 residents
- Union City10,876 residents
- Oakland10,769 residents
- Atoka10,624 residents
- Fairview10,535 residents
- Paris10,517 residents
- Clinton10,458 residents
- Winchester10,251 residents
- Brownsville9,358 residents
- Thompson's Station9,081 residents
- Jefferson City9,013 residents
- Signal Mountain8,877 residents
- Covington8,575 residents
- Milan8,306 residents
- Pulaski8,241 residents
- Lexington8,037 residents
- Humboldt7,852 residents
- Dayton7,796 residents
- Savannah7,565 residents
- Ripley7,546 residents
- Church Hill7,310 residents
- La Follette7,194 residents
- Fayetteville7,142 residents
- Greenbrier7,039 residents
- Newport6,954 residents
- Loudon6,942 residents
- Munford6,896 residents
- Lynchburg, Moore County metropolitan government6,773 residents
- Jonesborough6,746 residents
- Sweetwater6,676 residents
- Henderson6,519 residents
- Pigeon Forge6,446 residents
- Millersville6,427 residents
- Kingston6,340 residents
- Harriman6,216 residents
- Erwin6,020 residents
- Dunlap5,960 residents
- Lafayette5,919 residents
- Ashland City5,689 residents
- Rockwood5,684 residents
- Medina5,681 residents
- Pleasant View5,629 residents
- McKenzie5,603 residents
Permit Categories
- Shed Permits
- Fence Permits
- Deck Permits
- Roof Permits
- Pool Permits
- Patio Permits
- Pergola Permits
- Garage Permits
- Carport Permits
- Tree Removal Permits
- Solar Panels Permits
- HVAC Permits
- Electrical Permits
- Plumbing Permits
- Driveway Permits
- ADU Permits
- Home Addition Permits
- Demolition Permits
- Windows Permits
- Water Heater Permits