Benton County government lists no building or codes department, and the county and Big Sandy have both opted out of Tennessee’s residential building program, so a house in the unincorporated county or in Big Sandy needs no building permit. Camden is the exception: it has its own building inspector at City Hall (731-584-4656). Electrical work everywhere in the county takes a State of Tennessee permit, which Benton County Electric System in Camden sells by phone (731-584-8251).
What needs a permit in Benton County?
Permit needed
- Electrical work anywhere in the county: State of Tennessee electrical permit
- Building work inside Camden city limits: City of Camden building permit
- A state residential permit, only if the owner of a home in an opt-out area chooses state inspections
No local building permit
- Houses, duplexes and additions in unincorporated Benton County
- Houses, duplexes and additions in Big Sandy
- In Camden: accessory buildings up to 200 sq ft, fences up to 6 ft, small detached decks, sidewalks and driveways, finish work
Opting out means the county’s legislative body voted by a two-thirds majority to keep the state residential code and its inspections out of the county. It does not remove the state electrical permit.
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Get a free quote →Who issues permits in Benton County?
| Area | Who issues permits |
|---|---|
| Unincorporated county (including Eva and Holladay) | No county building permit; the county has opted out of the state residential program |
| Big Sandy | No state residential permit (opted out); the Town’s site publishes no permit process; Big Sandy City Hall, 65 Front Street, 731-593-3213 |
| Camden | City of Camden Building & Codes Enforcement (building inspector), City Hall, 110 Highway 641 South, 731-584-4656 |
| Electrical, whole county | State Fire Marshal’s Office, 615-741-7170; local issuing agent Benton County Electric System, Camden, 731-584-8251 |
The State Fire Marshal’s residential list classifies Benton County and Big Sandy as opt-out and Camden as exempt, meaning Camden enforces its own codes inside city limits. County government is at 1 Courthouse Square in Camden (731-584-6011); its department directory includes the Highway Department and the Health Department but no building, codes or zoning office.
Electrical and other trade permits
Electrical: the state’s electrical program covers the whole county and both towns, so every electrical job in Benton County needs a state permit and a state inspection. Permits are bought in the state’s CORE system online, or through the Benton County Electric System in Camden, a state issuing agent that takes permit requests by phone but not by email. Inspections are requested in CORE or by calling 615-741-7170 with the permit number.
Plumbing, mechanical and gas: the county publishes no plumbing, mechanical or gas permit, and no local trade licence. Inside Camden, ask the building inspector which trade work the City permits.
Contractor licensing in Camden: the City’s fee schedule requires a contractor with the appropriate state licence for any construction over $25,000.
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →Permit fees in Benton County
With no county building permit, the costs that apply depend on where the job is.
Camden: the City’s building permit fee schedule, effective January 11, 2010, is based on the cost of construction, and the inspector may set the value if the estimate looks low. Fees double if work starts before the permit is issued.
| Cost of construction | Fee |
|---|---|
| $1 to $500 | $24 |
| $501 to $2,000 | $24 plus $3 per additional $100 |
| $2,001 to $40,000 | $69 plus $11 per additional $1,000 |
| $40,001 to $100,000 | $487 plus $9 per additional $1,000 |
| $100,001 to $500,000 | $1,027 plus $7 per additional $1,000 |
| $500,001 to $1,000,000 | $3,827 plus $5 per additional $1,000 |
| $1,000,001 to $5,000,000 | $6,327 plus $3 per additional $1,000 |
| Over $5,000,000 | $18,327 plus $1 per additional $1,000 |
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →Optional state residential permit: an owner in the unincorporated county or Big Sandy who wants a state inspection and certificate of occupancy pays the state fee by cost of construction: $100 up to $5,000, $350 from $5,001 to $100,000, then $50 more for each further $50,000 band. New construction adds $100 for the plumbing and HVAC inspection, and a slab not poured with its footings adds $100. The state counts construction at no less than $60.57 per heated square foot.
Inspections and certificates of occupancy
Unincorporated county and Big Sandy: no local building inspections take place. Since 2017, the owner of a one- or two-family home in an opt-out area, or the contractor, can buy a state building permit and ask the State Fire Marshal’s Office to inspect the new home or addition during construction. If it meets the state standards, the state issues a certificate of occupancy, which some lenders and loan programs require.
Electrical: a state deputy electrical inspector inspects every permitted electrical job. Request the inspection in CORE or by phone at 615-741-7170, with the permit number ready.
Camden: the City’s building inspector inspects permitted work inside city limits; contact City Hall at 731-584-4656, Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Local details for Benton County
Camden exemptions: the City’s fee schedule lists work exempt from a building permit: single-story detached accessory buildings of 200 sq ft or less; fences no higher than 6 feet; retaining walls of 4 feet or less; water tanks on grade holding 5,000 gallons or less; driveways and sidewalks; finish work such as painting, papering, tiling, carpets and counters; prefabricated pools less than 24 inches deep; swings and playground equipment; and decks of no more than 200 sq ft, 30 inches above grade, not attached to the house and not serving the required exit door. The work must still meet the code.
Rather not deal with the Benton County building department?
Get a free quote →Planning in Camden: the City has a Planning Director and a Planning Commission, and publishes its zoning ordinance and subdivision regulations on its Planning page.
Tennessee statewide rules
Tennessee licenses contractors through the Board for Licensing Contractors for jobs of $25,000 or more; a Home Improvement licence applies below that only in the nine counties that opted in. Tennessee rules
Official Benton County government resources
State program pages that apply in Benton County, and the Camden and Big Sandy pages:
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →- Tennessee state residential permit instructions
- Tennessee residential jurisdictions and inspectors
- Benton County Tennessee government
- State inspections in opt-out jurisdictions
- State residential building permit fees
- State electrical permits (CORE)
- State electrical permit issuing agents
- City of Camden directory (Building & Codes)
- City of Camden building permit fees
- Town of Big Sandy contact
Benton County permit FAQs
Do I need a building permit in Benton County, TN?
Not for a home in the unincorporated county or in Big Sandy: both voted out of the state residential program, and neither runs a building department. Inside Camden, the City issues building permits.
Do I need an electrical permit in Benton County?
Yes, everywhere in the county. Buy a State of Tennessee electrical permit online in CORE or by phone through Benton County Electric System (731-584-8251), and the state inspects the work.
How can I get a certificate of occupancy in an opt-out area?
Buy a state residential building permit and ask the State Fire Marshal’s Office to inspect during construction. If the home meets state standards, the state issues the certificate.
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →How much is a building permit in Camden?
It depends on the construction cost: $24 up to $500, rising to $1,027 plus $7 per $1,000 between $100,000 and $500,000, under the City’s 2010 schedule.
Is a permit needed for a shed or fence in Camden?
Not for a one-story detached accessory building of 200 sq ft or less, or a fence up to 6 feet high.
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More Tennessee permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Benton County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.