Cocke County, Tennessee Building Permit Guide

Unincorporated Cocke County does not issue building permits or certificates of occupancy. Before land is developed or used, the owner needs a development permit from the Floodplain Administrator, a 911 address, a TDEC septic permit and a zoning permit from the Building Commissioner at 141 Western Plaza, Newport (423-237-7600). Inside Newport, the city’s building inspector issues building, plumbing and mechanical permits.

Who issues permits in Cocke County?

The county Building Commissioner, Ashley Shelton, is appointed by the County Mayor and approved by the County Legislative Body. The post enforces the zoning regulations, keeps the records and forwards cases to the Board of Zoning Appeals and the Planning Commission. The Commissioner can issue zoning permits for agricultural, single-family and multi-family developments; any other permit has to be approved by the Planning Commission. The office is open Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

On the State Fire Marshal’s residential table (August 21, 2026), Cocke County and Parrottsville have both passed resolutions opting out of the state residential building program, and Newport is exempt because it enforces its own code.

• Unincorporated Cocke County: no building permit; county development and zoning permits as described here.
• Newport: the City of Newport issues building, demolition, mechanical, plumbing and temporary use permits and Certificates of Occupancy from 300 E Main Street (423-623-7323). Its 2025 application also flags projects that need Design Review Board, Planning Commission review or a variance.
• Parrottsville: opted out of the state program; the published sources do not say whether the town issues any permit of its own, so ask town hall.

Septic, floodplain and electrical approvals

• Development permit (floodplain): issued by the county Floodplain Administrator, who keeps the development permit records used for E911 addresses, along with elevation certificates. You need the property in your name, proof of ownership, the map and parcel ID and the property’s location. In a flood zone, an elevation certificate must be obtained before building starts. Office: 423-623-8791, fpadmin@cockecountytn.gov; the application is also online through GovPilot.
• Septic: TDEC’s Knoxville Environmental Field Office serves Cocke County (septic inquiries 865-594-6035).
• Electrical: no Cocke County jurisdiction is on the state’s list of places that run their own electrical inspections, and the state lists no local issuing agent in the county, so electrical permits are bought from the State of Tennessee online in CORE and inspected by a state deputy electrical inspector. That applies inside Newport as well.

Cocke County fees

Getting a request on the Cocke County Regional Planning Commission agenda costs nothing; the county warns that emails asking for an agenda fee are a scam. In Newport, the city’s building permit application asks for the value of the work and records the permit fee.

What the county zoning permit needs

• Applicant and property owner names, property address and phone number
• Subdivision name and lot number, if any, and total acreage
• A description of what you are building and the number of existing dwellings on the parcel
• A site plan with front, side and rear setbacks, measured from the property line to the building
• The contractor’s business name, contact details, contractor’s licence and proof of workers’ compensation insurance
• The development permit and septic permit, where they apply
• An Affidavit of Exemption if you are exempt from workers’ compensation or building the structure yourself

Order of approvals in unincorporated Cocke County

Inspections in Cocke County

With no county building permit and no county certificate of occupancy, the county does not carry out building-code inspections of new homes in the unincorporated area, and because the county has opted out of the state residential program the State Fire Marshal does not inspect them either. State electrical inspections still apply to every wiring job. Inside Newport, the city building inspector inspects permitted work before a Certificate of Occupancy is issued.

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

Cocke County official permitting resources

• State Fire Marshal’s Office
• Tennessee Residential Jurisdictions & Inspectors
• Cocke County Zoning Department
• Cocke County Floodplain Department
• Cocke County zoning permit application (GovPilot)
• Cocke County development permit application (GovPilot)
• Tennessee state electrical permits
• City of Newport building and sign permits
• TDEC Knoxville Environmental Field Office (septic)

Cocke County permit FAQs

Do I need a building permit in Cocke County, TN?

Not outside Newport. The county says it does not require a building permit or certificate of occupancy, but you still need a development permit, a 911 address, a TDEC septic permit and a zoning permit before developing or using the property.

Who issues building permits in Newport?

The City of Newport, 300 E Main Street (423-623-7323), which also issues demolition, plumbing and mechanical permits.

Can I build my own house without a contractor?

The county zoning permit can be issued to an owner building the structure, who fills out the county’s Affidavit of Exemption in place of the contractor’s workers’ compensation proof.

Do I need an elevation certificate?

Yes, if the lot is in a flood zone; the Floodplain Administrator requires it before building starts.

Where do I get an electrical permit?

From the State of Tennessee through CORE, for work anywhere in the county.

Does it cost money to get on the Planning Commission agenda?

No. The county says there is no fee and that emails asking for one are a scam.

Simplify Cocke 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 Cocke County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.