Chester County, Tennessee Building Permit Guide

In unincorporated Chester County, the county Building & Zoning Department at 159 East Main Street, Henderson (731-989-5672) requires a permit for any construction worth $2,000 or more, priced on project value; a $185,384 house costs $912. The City of Henderson permits inside the city and its planning region, and the State Fire Marshal also lists the unincorporated county in its residential permit program.

Who issues building permits in Chester County?

The county says residential building permits have been required throughout Chester County since 2017, and that it authorized the City of Henderson to handle building, zoning and subdivision permits for the city’s planning region, the band of county land that surrounds the city. Everything else outside a town is handled by the County Building & Zoning Department (PO Box 183, 159 East Main Street, Henderson; weekdays 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.).

The county office’s 2021 permitting booklet prints an older phone number, 731-983-0121; the Building & Zoning web page now gives 731-989-5672.

What needs a Chester County building permit?

Any new construction, addition, renovation, major repair, or manufactured or modular building worth $2,000 or more needs a permit, counting labour, materials and the electrical, gas, mechanical and plumbing systems in the value. That includes decks, porches, carports, swimming pools and accessory buildings, bought or built on site. Painting, floor and roof coverings, sidewalks, patios and minor fixture repairs do not, and the county’s exempt-work list also frees one-story sheds up to 200 sq ft, fences up to 7 feet and retaining walls up to 4 feet. Outbuildings or car covers under $2,000 still have to sit in an approved location, so check with the building official. Building without a permit is a Class C misdemeanor.

Electrical, plumbing and septic

• Electrical: Chester County follows the electrical code the state adopts, and no Chester jurisdiction runs its own electrical program, so electrical permits are State of Tennessee permits bought in CORE.
• Plumbing: the county inspects underground plumbing before it is covered, with water lines pressurized to 60 PSI and sewer lines tested at 5 PSI or with a 10-foot head.
• Septic: permits come from TDEC’s Jackson Environmental Field Office (septic inquiries 731-441-5593). The county’s zoning compliance application asks whether a septic tank permit has been issued for the building and for a copy of it.
• Commercial sprinklers: the hydrostatic test on a commercial sprinkler system is inspected together with the Fire Department.

Chester County permit fees

County fees are based on the full value of the work. These figures are from the county’s permitting booklet dated July 1, 2021:

The county’s own example: a structure valued at $185,384 pays $568 + $340 + $4 = $912. Any project other than a one- or two-family dwelling valued over $249,999 adds a state plan review fee of 25% of the permit fee, capped at $2,000, and work started before the permit pays twice the fee.

Where the state residential permit applies (Enville, Milledgeville, Silerton and, by the SFMO’s list, the unincorporated county), the state charges by cost of construction with a floor of $60.57 per heated square foot: for example $400 for $100,001 to $150,000, plus $100 for the plumbing and HVAC inspection on new construction. A 2,000 sq ft heated home is valued at least $121,140, so its state permit is $500, or $600 if a living-space slab is poured separately from the footing. The state fee includes all required inspections and one free re-inspection.

Applying in Chester County

Permits and application forms are handed out at the Building & Zoning Department in the Chester County Office Building. The Zoning Compliance Application asks for the map and parcel, acreage and zone, owner and contractor details with licence number, the type of structure, living and storage area, estimated cost, setbacks, the flood zone with any elevation certificate, and septic permit documentation.

• Owners can pull a permit for new construction, outbuildings or additions at their own residence and take on liability and workers’ compensation responsibility; state law limits owner-built new homes to one every two years.
• Workers without a contractor’s licence can take out a permit for jobs under $25,000 if they show workers’ compensation insurance or sign a waiver.
• Licensed contractors show their state licence number and proof of workers’ compensation, and work within their state monetary limit.

Chester County inspections

Field work is normally scheduled between 12:30 and 3:30 p.m.; morning inspections are granted only by exception. Depending on the job the county inspects the footing, foundation walls, floor framing before subflooring, underground plumbing, rough framing, insulation and, last, the final inspection that leads to a Certificate of Occupancy. Permits expire six months after they are issued. On state-permitted homes, the permit holder books inspections in CORE and the state inspector has three working days to come.

Planning and zoning in Chester County

The Chester County Regional Planning Commission covers the unincorporated county except Henderson’s planning region and meets on the third Tuesday of each month at 6:00 p.m. at the Public Safety Building; meetings are advertised in the Chester County Independent. A rezoning request costs $100, a two-lot split $50, and subdivisions from $100 (up to 4 lots) to $250 (26 to 50 lots); final plats are due 15 days before the meeting with five copies. The Board of Zoning Appeals hears variances and appeals of the Building Inspector’s decisions for $100 and meets only when needed.

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 Chester County government resources

• Tennessee state residential permit instructions
• Tennessee residential jurisdictions and inspectors
• Chester County permitting process and fees (PDF)
• Chester County Building & Zoning
• Chester County work exempt from permit (PDF)
• SFMO residential building permit fees
• City of Henderson Building & Zoning
• TDEC Jackson Environmental Field Office

Chester County permit FAQs

When do I need a building permit in Chester County?

For any construction, addition, renovation or major repair worth $2,000 or more, including decks, carports, pools, accessory buildings and manufactured homes.

How much is a building permit for a $185,000 house?

The county’s worked example for a $185,384 structure is $912, from its value-based table; re-inspections are $30 each.

Who handles permits near Henderson?

The City of Henderson Building & Zoning Department, for the city and for its planning region outside the city limits (731-983-5011).

Is Chester County in the state residential permit program?

The State Fire Marshal’s table lists unincorporated Chester County, Enville, Milledgeville and Silerton as participating, while Henderson is exempt. The county also issues its own permits, so ask Building & Zoning whether both apply to a new home.

How long is a Chester County permit good for?

Six months from the date it is issued.

Where do I get electrical and septic permits?

Electrical permits are state permits bought in CORE; septic permits come from TDEC’s Jackson field office.

Simplify Chester County permitting with Alliance Permitting

Alliance Permitting is a permit documentation and submission company in Tennessee. We prepare your paperwork, file it correctly and coordinate with the permitting authority through issuance. We are not a contractor and we do not perform licensed plan review or inspections; that work stays with your licensed team and the jurisdiction.

This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Chester County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.