The Blount County Department of Development Services, at 303 McGhee Street in Maryville (865-681-9301), is a one-stop building authority for unincorporated Blount County. It enforces the 2018 International Code Council codes for commercial and residential work, requires a stamped Planning development-plan approval before a building permit, and routes electrical to the state electrical inspector.
Two Blount steps sit outside the building counter. The Planning Department reviews all new developments for site matters and issues a stamped, approved development plan that is a prerequisite to the building permit. And because the county fronts Tellico and Fort Loudoun lakes, a boat dock or marina may require review by the Tennessee Valley Authority and the US Army Corps of Engineers on top of the county permit.
Scope: unincorporated Blount County through Development Services. Maryville, Alcoa, Townsend and others permit their own work — Maryville runs its own electrical inspection.
Planning approval and the right code edition come before the permit. The Planning Department's stamped, approved development plan is a prerequisite to the building permit, and the county directs applicants to verify the current adopted code editions with the code office rather than assuming a fixed year. On a lakeside parcel, a dock or marina may add TVA and Army Corps review with their own timelines.
What requires a permit in Blount County?
The Blount County Department of Development Services, at 303 McGhee Street in Maryville (865-681-9301), is the building authority for unincorporated Blount County — the gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains on the south side of Knoxville. It is a one-stop office: it accepts applications for all construction permits, collects fees, issues permits, schedules inspections, maintains the permit record and issues occupancy certificates. Maryville, Alcoa, Townsend, Louisville and Rockford run their own permitting; inside Friendsville, a new home or addition needs a state residential building permit from the State Fire Marshal’s Office.
On code editions, Development Services says it enforces the commercial and residential regulations of the 2018 edition of the International Code Council codes through plan review and inspection. Confirm any local amendments with Development Services before you design. An exempt jurisdiction cannot let its code go stale indefinitely. Under T.C.A. § 68-120-101(b)(5)(A) the adopted edition must stay within seven years of the most current published edition unless the State Fire Marshal approves otherwise. That seven-year band, rather than a single statewide changeover date, is why two Tennessee cities an hour apart can be on different code years and both be compliant.
A Blount County project has a Planning step before the building permit. The Planning Department reviews plans for all new developments — mostly for site matters such as landscaping, signage, traffic patterns and the height, area and location of the building — and a stamped, approved development plan from Planning is required before Development Services issues. And because Blount County fronts Tellico Lake and Fort Loudoun Lake, projects such as boat docks or marinas may require review by the Tennessee Valley Authority and the United States Army Corps of Engineers. Tennessee does not have one permitting model, it has three, and which one applies decides who your building official actually is. A jurisdiction that has adopted codes meeting the state minimum and enforces them is an exempt jurisdiction: it runs its own plan review, permits and inspections, and the state stays out except for state buildings, schools and a handful of licensed occupancies. A jurisdiction that has not is non-exempt, and the State Fire Marshal's Office is the building official there, working through contracted deputy building inspectors who cover several counties each. And a jurisdiction that has passed a two-thirds resolution under T.C.A. § 68-120-101(b)(1)(B) is an opt-out or non-code jurisdiction, where one- and two-family dwellings sit outside the statewide standards altogether.
No political subdivision of Tennessee may adopt or enforce standards of fire prevention, fire protection or building construction that are less stringent than the state minimum. Local amendments can add to the code; they cannot subtract from it.
Permit required
- New residential and commercial construction, and additions
- Structural alterations, repairs, and changes of occupancy
- Accessory structures above the county threshold
- Swimming pools and their required barriers
- Decks, and exterior structural work
- Plumbing, mechanical, and gas work
- Electrical work — inspected by the state electrical inspector
- Shoreline docks or marinas — possible TVA and Army Corps review
Typically exempt
- Painting, flooring, and cosmetic finishes
- Routine maintenance not altering structure or a regulated system
- Work inside Maryville, Alcoa, Townsend, or another city
- Minor work below the county's published thresholds
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Get a free quote →Blount County building department: who handles permitting
Development Services being a one-stop office is a genuine convenience: one counter takes the application, collects the fee, issues the permit, schedules the inspection, holds the record and issues the certificate of occupancy. Two appeals boards meet to consider variance requests, and a commercial occupancy carries a non-refundable variance fee at application. Lot numbers or the address must be clearly posted at the street entrance or on site, or an inspection can be rejected automatically.
The Planning Department step is the one most likely to be missed by someone used to counties where building and planning are the same queue. Planning reviews every new development for site suitability — landscaping, signage, traffic and the building's height, area and location — and its stamped, approved development plan is a prerequisite to the building permit. Bring that approval to Development Services rather than expecting the building counter to generate it.
The shoreline review is specific to Blount County's geography. With Tellico Lake and Fort Loudoun Lake on its borders, a boat dock, marina or other shoreline structure can fall under the Tennessee Valley Authority's land-use review and the United States Army Corps of Engineers, in addition to the county permit. Those federal and TVA approvals run on their own timelines, so identify them early on any waterfront project.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Authority | Blount County Department of Development Services |
| Covers | Unincorporated Blount County |
| Cities running their own | Maryville, Alcoa, Townsend, Louisville, Rockford (Friendsville homes take a state residential permit) |
| Office | 303 McGhee Street, Maryville, TN 37801; 865-681-9301 |
| Codes | 2018 International Codes, commercial and residential |
| Planning prerequisite | Stamped, approved development plan required before a building permit |
| Electrical | Inspected by the state electrical inspector |
| Shoreline | Docks or marinas may require TVA and US Army Corps review |
| Address posting | Lot number or address posted at the entrance, or automatic reject |
Planning approval and the right code edition come first. A stamped, approved development plan from the Planning Department is a prerequisite to the building permit, and the county directs applicants to verify the current code editions with the code office rather than assuming a fixed year. On a lakeside parcel, a dock or marina may add TVA and Army Corps review.
Confirm from the parcel whether the site is unincorporated Blount County or inside Maryville, Alcoa, Townsend or another city, because the permitting office changes at the city line — and Maryville in particular runs its own electrical inspection, unlike the unincorporated county where electrical is the state's.
In 2025, building permits issued in unincorporated Blount County authorized 624 new privately owned housing units, all of them single-family homes, according to the U.S. Census Bureau Building Permits Survey.
Blount County permits: record types and what each covers
Blount County's Development Services runs residential and commercial building records in one office. These are the records you are likely to file:
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →Residential permit types
| Permit type | What triggers it | Review path | Fee basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| New construction | New dwellings, additions, and accessory structures above the local size threshold | Plan review against the adopted residential code, plus zoning; the state floor is the 2018 IRC with Appendix Q | Valuation-based |
| Addition | Added interior space, including additions of 30 square feet or more | Structural and energy review; the 30 square foot interior trigger is smaller than most applicants expect | Valuation-based |
| Renovation / alteration | Structural changes, layout changes, or added plumbing, mechanical, or electrical | Plan review scaled to scope; renovations of existing one- and two-family dwellings sit outside the state minimum standards | Valuation-based |
| Reroof | Roof covering replacement, recover, and structural deck repair | Deck and dry-in inspection; plan review rarely required | Valuation or squares |
| Solar photovoltaic | Rooftop or ground-mount arrays, with or without battery storage | Structural review of the attachment locally, with the electrical scope usually permitted and inspected by the state | Flat or system-size based |
| Battery energy storage | Wall or floor-mounted storage added to a dwelling | Electrical review plus fire separation and location check | Flat or per-permit minimum |
| Electrical | Service changes, panel upgrades, new circuits, EV chargers, and rewiring | In most of Tennessee a state record bought through CORE and inspected by a contracted Deputy Electrical Inspector, not a local one | Per-permit or per-device |
| Plumbing | New piping, repipes, fixtures, gas piping, and water heater replacement | Trade review; performed by a licensed plumber or a Limited Licensed Plumber below the contractor threshold | Per-permit minimum or per-fixture |
| Mechanical / HVAC | Changeouts, new ductwork, and refrigeration | Trade review; the contractor licence attaches once the trade portion reaches the statutory threshold | Per-permit minimum or per-unit |
| Deck and porch | New decks, screened porches, and structural rebuilds | Structural review of footings, ledger attachment, and guards | Valuation or flat |
| Swimming pool | In-ground and above-ground pools | Barrier, bonding, and electrical review; the bonding scope generally follows the state electrical record | Valuation or flat |
| Manufactured home set-up | Placing or re-siting a manufactured home | Zoning, floodplain, and anchoring review; manufactured homes sit outside the state residential code but are installed under state installation rules, and local zoning still applies | Flat or per-unit |
| Demolition | Full or partial demolition of a dwelling or accessory structure | Utility disconnect confirmation and site restoration check | Flat |
| New single-family dwelling | Building a new home in the unincorporated county | Planning development plan, then building review; state electrical | Fee by scope |
| Lakeside dock or shoreline structure | A dock or marina on Tellico or Fort Loudoun | County permit plus possible TVA and Army Corps review | Fee by scope plus federal review |
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| Permit type | What triggers it | Review path | Fee basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| New commercial construction | Ground-up commercial, industrial, and institutional buildings | Concurrent review against the adopted building code, fire, and zoning; the state floor is the 2021 IBC with Tennessee amendments | Valuation-based |
| Tenant improvement / upfit | Interior fit-out of an existing tenant space | Building, trade, and life-safety review; accessibility attaches on change of use | Valuation-based |
| Change of occupancy | Converting a building or space to a different use group | Occupancy classification, egress, and accessibility review | Valuation or flat |
| Commercial electrical | Service, distribution, and branch circuit work | State record in most jurisdictions unless the city or county is on the State Fire Marshal’s exempt list and inspects its own electrical | Per-permit or valuation |
| Commercial plumbing | Process piping, fixtures, backflow, and grease waste | Trade review; backflow and grease interceptor sign-off where applicable | Per-fixture or valuation |
| Commercial mechanical | Rooftop units, kitchen exhaust and hood systems, and refrigeration | Trade review; hood and suppression systems draw fire review alongside mechanical | Per-unit or valuation |
| Commercial reroof | Roof covering replacement on a commercial structure | Deck, dry-in, and attachment inspection | Valuation or squares |
| Signage | Wall, ground, and illuminated signs | Zoning review for size and placement, plus electrical where illuminated | Flat or per-sign |
| Land disturbance | Clearing, grading, and stormwater-triggering site work | Erosion and sediment control review, separate from the building permit | Acreage-based |
| Commercial demolition | Full or partial demolition of a commercial structure | Utility disconnect, asbestos notification, and site restoration | Flat or valuation |
| State Fire Marshal plans review | Occupancies requiring State Fire Marshal approval, including schools and certain licensed facilities | Filed with the state through the plans submittal portal, in addition to and not instead of the local record | State fee schedule |
| Commercial new construction | A new commercial building in the county | Planning development plan, then full building review | Fee by scope; commercial variance fee |
| Variance request | A code variance on a commercial occupancy | Board of Construction Appeals review | Non-refundable variance fee |
Residential
- Single-discipline review in most cases
- The electrical record is usually a separate state permit, not a line on the building permit
- Contractor licence attaches at the statutory threshold; a Home Improvement licence may apply below it in nine counties only
- Septic properties need a TDEC septic construction permit before the system is installed, and some counties add their own
Commercial — multi-discipline
- Concurrent review across building, trades, fire, and zoning
- Signed and sealed plans across every affected discipline
- The licensee's monetary limit caps the job value, separately from the permit
- Accessibility and life-safety review attach to any change of occupancy
Rather not deal with the Blount County building department?
Get a free quote →Records you will actually see in Blount County
| Record | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Residential building permit | New homes, additions, alterations, and repairs |
| Commercial building permit | Commercial construction and tenant work |
| Accessory structure | Above the county threshold |
| Swimming pool | With barrier and bonding review |
| Plumbing / mechanical / gas | Trade permits under the adopted codes |
| State electrical permit | Inspected by the state electrical inspector |
| Shoreline structure | Dock or marina, with possible TVA and Army Corps review |
| Demolition permit | Full or partial demolition |
Solar permits in Blount County
A residential solar installation in unincorporated Blount County is a county building permit for the structural attachment plus a state electrical permit for the wiring, since electrical in the unincorporated county is inspected by the state electrical inspector rather than the county. Maryville, by contrast, runs its own electrical inspection, so confirm which authority applies from the parcel. The local power company sets the meter release on an approved electrical inspection, so confirm the interconnection path early.
Roofing permits in Blount County
A re-roof in unincorporated Blount County is a county building permit handled through Development Services. A like-for-like replacement is straightforward; adding load or altering the roof structure draws closer review. Post the lot number or address at the street entrance for the inspection, since a missing address can cause an automatic reject, and confirm the current adopted code edition with the code office before you design the assembly.
Tennessee solar jobs usually need a state electrical permit, unless the city or county runs its own electrical inspections, plus any local building review; roofing follows the adopted code and the manufacturer's instructions. Tennessee rules
Blount County permit cost
Blount County building permit fees are set by Development Services against the submitted scope, with a non-refundable variance fee charged at application for commercial occupancies. Because electrical is inspected by the state electrical inspector, the electrical cost is a state fee rather than a county line item.
Confirm the current fee basis and the adopted code editions with Development Services before budgeting. On a waterfront project, allow for the separate TVA and Army Corps processes, which carry their own requirements and timelines beyond the county permit.
| Fee component | How it works |
|---|---|
| Building permit | Set by Development Services against the submitted scope |
| Commercial variance | Non-refundable variance fee at application for commercial occupancies |
| Electrical | State fee via the state electrical inspector, not a county line item |
| Planning approval | Stamped development plan required before the building permit |
| Shoreline | Separate TVA and Army Corps processes on waterfront parcels |
| Septic properties | TDEC septic permit required before the system is installed |
| Confirm | Fee basis and current code editions with Development Services |
Want a precise number for a specific Blount County project? Send us the scope and we will price the permit path before you file.
Blount County trade permits
Electrical is inspected by the state electrical inspector. Four Blount specifics decide whether your application moves:
Verify the current code edition with the office
Development Services enforces the 2018 edition of the International Code Council codes for commercial and residential work. Confirm any local amendments with Development Services before you design.
Get the Planning development-plan approval first
The Planning Department reviews all new developments for site suitability, and its stamped, approved development plan is required before Development Services issues the building permit. Bring that approval to the building counter rather than expecting it to be generated there.
Electrical is the state's here
In unincorporated Blount County, electrical work is inspected by the state electrical inspector, so the electrical permit is a state record rather than a county one. Maryville, by contrast, runs its own electrical inspection, so confirm which applies from the parcel.
Waterfront docks may need federal review
Because Blount County fronts Tellico and Fort Loudoun lakes, a boat dock or marina may require review by the Tennessee Valley Authority and the US Army Corps of Engineers in addition to the county permit. Identify those approvals early on a waterfront project.
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Blount County permit application: how to apply step by step
Here is how to get a building permit in Blount County, from confirming the requirement through to close-out. Each step below corresponds to a real decision point where projects commonly stall.
Maryville, Alcoa, Townsend, Louisville and Rockford permit their own work, and a new home or addition in Friendsville takes a state residential building permit. Settle jurisdiction from the parcel before you start, and note Maryville runs its own electrical inspection.
Development Services enforces the 2018 International Codes. Confirm any local amendments with the office before you design.
Obtain the Planning Department's stamped, approved development plan, which reviews site matters such as landscaping, signage, traffic and the building's height, area and location, before applying for the building permit.
On a septic property, obtain the TDEC approval first. On a waterfront parcel, identify any TVA and Army Corps review for a dock or marina. Prepare plans and post the lot number or address at the entrance.
File with Development Services, clear building review, and pay the fee — including any commercial variance fee. Electrical is inspected by the state electrical inspector on its own track.
Book county inspections, run the state electrical inspection separately, and carry the project through to the certificate of occupancy before legal use.
Inspections in Blount County
County inspections are scheduled against the issued permit through Development Services, with typical checkpoints running footing and foundation, framing, trade rough-ins, insulation and final. The lot number or address must be posted at the street entrance or on site, or an inspection can be rejected automatically, and Blount County will perform a pressure test on gas work.
Electrical inspections are performed by the state electrical inspector rather than the county, so the electrical final runs on the state's track. The county final and the state electrical final are separate approvals, so confirm both are cleared before expecting an occupancy certificate.
On a waterfront project, the TVA and Army Corps reviews sit outside the county's inspection sequence entirely, with their own approvals. On an existing building, confirm what was previously permitted against what is standing before a change of occupancy, using the Development Services record.
Post the lot number or address at the entrance, or an inspection can be rejected automatically. The electrical final is the state inspector's, separate from the county final — clear both before expecting a certificate of occupancy.
Blount County permit search and official resources
Blount County publishes its Development Services information, code documents and permitting manual online, with the state and federal resources that sit alongside them.
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →- Blount County Development Services
- Blount County Building Safety / Codes
- TN Board for Licensing Contractors
- State electrical permits (CORE)
- TVA land use and shoreline permitting
- US Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District permits
Frequently asked questions
Who issues building permits in Blount County, TN?
The Blount County Department of Development Services, at 303 McGhee Street in Maryville (865-681-9301), for unincorporated Blount County. It is a one-stop office for all construction permits, fees, inspections and occupancy certificates. Maryville, Alcoa, Townsend and the other cities run their own permitting, except that Friendsville homes take a state residential permit.
Which building code does Blount County enforce?
Development Services says it enforces the commercial and residential regulations of the 2018 edition of the International Code Council codes. Confirm any local amendments with Development Services before you design.
Do I need Planning approval before a building permit in Blount County?
Yes. The Planning Department reviews all new developments for site matters such as landscaping, signage, traffic and the building's height, area and location, and a stamped, approved development plan from Planning is required before Development Services issues the building permit.
Does Blount County issue electrical permits?
In the unincorporated county, electrical work is inspected by the state electrical inspector, so the electrical permit is a state record rather than a county one. Maryville, by contrast, runs its own electrical inspection, so confirm which applies from the parcel.
Do I need a permit for a boat dock in Blount County?
Possibly more than one. Because Blount County fronts Tellico and Fort Loudoun lakes, a boat dock or marina may require review by the Tennessee Valley Authority and the US Army Corps of Engineers in addition to the county permit. Identify those approvals early, as they run on their own timelines.
Is Blount County a one-stop permitting office?
Largely, yes. The Department of Development Services accepts all construction permit applications, collects fees, issues permits, schedules inspections, maintains the record and issues occupancy certificates. The main separate step is the Planning Department's development-plan approval, which comes first.
Do I need a contractor licence in Blount County?
A Tennessee contractor licence is required to bid or perform work valued at $25,000 or more, including labour and materials. The same threshold reaches electrical, mechanical, plumbing, HVAC and roofing subcontractors on their own portion; masonry subcontractors are licensed at $100,000.
Do I need a Home Improvement licence in Blount County?
No. Blount is not one of the nine Tennessee counties that require the Home Improvement licence. Below the $25,000 contractor threshold there is no separate state home improvement credential here, though local registration and trade licences still apply.
Do I need a septic approval before a building permit in Blount County?
On a parcel without public sewer, yes. The state's TDEC subsurface sewage disposal program issues the septic permit, and it must be in hand before the county can issue the building permit. The system is sized to bedroom count.
What happens if the address is not posted at inspection in Blount County?
The lot number or address must be clearly posted at the street entrance or on site. If it is not posted, an inspection can be rejected automatically, so confirm the posting before scheduling to avoid a wasted trip.
Does Blount County check my HOA covenants?
No. Deed restrictions, covenants and subdivision regulations are private matters between the owner and the subdivision. A permit that clears the county can still breach a covenant, and the county will not have checked.
Does Maryville use the same permitting office as Blount County?
No. Maryville, Alcoa, Townsend, Louisville and Rockford run their own permitting inside their limits, and Maryville has its own electrical inspection. In Friendsville a new home or addition takes a state residential building permit. Confirm the parcel is in unincorporated Blount County before filing with Development Services.
Simplify Blount County permitting with Alliance Permitting
Blount County's one-stop Development Services, its verify-current-editions instruction, its Planning development-plan prerequisite and its lakeside TVA and Army Corps review reward applicants who confirm the code year, clear Planning first, and identify any shoreline approvals early.
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Contractors and builders choose Alliance for Blount County because the work is done by people who have stood at the counter:
- Right authority — unincorporated county or one of the Blount cities, resolved from the parcel, with Maryville's own electrical noted.
- Current editions confirmed — the 2018 code set and any local amendments checked with Development Services.
- Planning cleared first — the stamped, approved development plan in hand before the building permit.
- Shoreline handled — any TVA and Army Corps review for a dock or marina identified and sequenced early.
Alliance Permitting is a permit documentation and expediting service in Tennessee. We are not a law firm and do not provide legal advice, and we are not the permitting authority.
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More Tennessee permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Blount County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.