Building permits in Davidson County are issued by the Metro Department of Codes and Building Safety — the same department that handles Nashville city permits. Nashville and Davidson County have operated as a consolidated Metro government since 1963, so there is no separate county permitting office.
This Davidson County building permit guide covers what requires a permit, how the consolidated Metro Codes process works, the ePermits and ePlans portals, fees, trade permits, and inspections.
Davidson County = Nashville Metro. There is no separate “county” permitting office and no unincorporated county area — the Metro Department of Codes and Building Safety handles building and trade permits, including electrical, for the consolidated Nashville–Davidson County area. The exceptions are the satellite cities of Belle Meade, Berry Hill, Forest Hills, Goodlettsville, Oak Hill and Ridgetop, which sit outside Metro Codes’ building jurisdiction. This has been the case since 1963. Goodlettsville issues only the building permit on its Davidson County side; plumbing, gas/mechanical and electrical permits there are bought from Metro Codes, which inspects them at rough-in and final.
What requires a building permit in Davidson County?
Under the International Codes as adopted by Davidson County, a permit is required before constructing, enlarging, altering, repairing, moving, demolishing, or changing the occupancy of most structures. Common triggers include:
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- New residential and commercial construction, additions
- Structural and load-bearing alterations
- Reroofing, windows, doors, and exterior changes
- Electrical, plumbing, mechanical, and gas work
- HVAC installations and changeouts
- Decks, porches, pools, garages, carports and storage buildings of 100 sq ft or more
- Change of occupancy or use
- Pre-manufactured home placement
Typically exempt
- Painting, flooring, cabinetry, and cosmetic work
- Storage buildings under 100 sq ft
- Replacement of existing fixtures (like-for-like swaps)
- Fences (zoning rules still apply) and roof repairs up to 33% of the roof area
Exemptions are narrow and scope-specific. When unsure, confirm with the building department before starting — see the penalty note below.
Get the permit issued before starting work. Building without one exposes the owner to penalties and stop-work orders. Note that exemption from a building permit does not exempt a project from zoning requirements — confirm edge cases with the building department.
Who handles permitting in Davidson County?
Permitting, plan review, and inspections run through the Davidson County Metro Codes & Building Safety.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Office | Metro Codes & Building Safety — Metro Office Building, 800 President Ronald Reagan Way, 1st Floor, Nashville, TN 37210 |
| Phone | 615-862-6500 |
| Apply | ePermits & ePlans |
| Covers | Davidson County (consolidated Metro), except the satellite cities of Belle Meade, Berry Hill, Forest Hills, Goodlettsville, Oak Hill and Ridgetop |
| Code cycle | 2024 I-Codes (IBC/IRC) |
| Hours | Monday–Friday, 7:30 AM – 4:00 PM |
Apply through ePermits or the Zoning Help Desk. Registered contractors apply for residential permits in ePermits; other applications, and all commercial applications, go to the Zoning Help Desk (zoninghelpdesk@nashville.gov), with commercial plans uploaded to ePlans. The main Codes line is 615-862-6500.
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Get a free quote →Davidson County building permit cost
Davidson County building permit fees are set by the Metro fee schedule and based on valuation: $5.00 per $1,000 for one- and two-family homes and townhouses, and a sliding valuation scale for other work, plus a $25 zoning examination fee and a 10% Codes Tech Fee. Separate trade permit fees apply. Confirm current amounts with Metro Codes & Building Safety.
| Fee component | How it works |
|---|---|
| Building permit fee | Metro fee schedule: $5.00 per $1,000 of valuation for one- and two-family homes and townhouses; sliding valuation scale for other work |
| Plan review fee | Separate: half the building permit fee up to $275,000 of valuation, tiered above; not charged on one- and two-family homes or townhouses |
| Trade permits (E / P / M / Gas) | Separate fee per trade |
| Certificate of Occupancy | Required before legal occupancy |
| Work-without-permit | Penalties + enforcement action |
Want a precise number for a specific Davidson County project? Send us the scope and valuation and we'll return a fee estimate alongside a filing timeline.
Davidson County trade permits
Electrical, plumbing, mechanical, and gas permits are filed separately. Each requires a Tennessee-licensed trade contractor.
Electrical permits
Required for service upgrades, panel work, solar PV, and most wiring — performed by a TN-licensed electrical contractor.
Plumbing permits
Required for new plumbing, repipes, water heaters, and gas piping — performed by a TN-licensed plumber.
Mechanical (HVAC) permits
Required for HVAC installations, changeouts, ductwork, and refrigeration — performed by a TN-licensed mechanical contractor.
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Call 1-855-478-4290 →Miscellaneous & specialty
Reroofs, decks, pools, accessory structures, and demolition are permitted separately; fences need no permit but must meet zoning rules.
Verify your contractor's license. Tennessee requires a state contractor license issued by the Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors (under the Department of Commerce & Insurance / TDCI) for projects valued at $25,000 or more. Separate trade licenses are required for electrical (CE), plumbing, and HVAC/mechanical work. Homeowners may pull their own permit for personal-use construction once every 24 months under TCA § 62-6-103 — but the project must still meet all code and inspection requirements. Verify licensure at tn.gov/commerce/regboards/contractors.
How to get a building permit in Davidson County
Confirm jurisdiction & zoning
Confirm the parcel is in Metro’s area and not inside a satellite city (Belle Meade, Berry Hill, Forest Hills, Goodlettsville, Oak Hill and Ridgetop), which handle building permits through their own city offices. Confirm zoning compliance.
Prepare application & plans
Complete the building permit application with construction plans, site plan, and required documentation.
Submit to Metro Codes & Building Safety
Registered contractors apply in ePermits; other applicants email the Zoning Help Desk (zoninghelpdesk@nashville.gov). Commercial plans are uploaded to ePlans.
Plan review & corrections
Metro Codes & Building Safety reviews against adopted codes. Address comments and resubmit as needed.
Pay fees & pull the permit
Pay calculated fees. Post the permit card on site.
Schedule inspections through CO
Request inspections through the department. Clear all checkpoints for your Certificate of Occupancy.
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Schedule inspections through the Metro Codes & Building Safety. Typical checkpoints include footing/foundation, framing, rough-in MEP, insulation, and final. Post the permit and approved plans on site. A final inspection and CO are required before occupancy.
Address correction notices before requesting a re-inspection; a final inspection and Certificate of Occupancy are required before legal occupancy or use.
Official Davidson County permitting resources
- 🏛️ Davidson County Metro Codes & Building Safety
- 🪪 TN Board for Licensing Contractors
- 📘 TN State Fire Marshal
- 🔥 TN Dept. of Commerce & Insurance
Frequently asked questions
Is there a separate Davidson County building department?
No. Nashville and Davidson County have shared one Metro government since 1963, and the Metro Department of Codes and Building Safety issues building and trade permits for the county. Its office is at 800 President Ronald Reagan Way, 1st Floor, Nashville (615-862-6500, weekdays 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.).
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →Which parts of Davidson County do not use Metro Codes for building permits?
The satellite cities of Belle Meade, Berry Hill, Forest Hills, Goodlettsville, Oak Hill and Ridgetop issue building permits through their own offices. On the Davidson County side of Goodlettsville the City issues the building permit, while the electrical, plumbing and gas/mechanical permits are bought from Metro Codes.
Does a shed or a fence in Davidson County need a permit?
A storage building of 100 sq ft or more needs a building permit, and one under 100 sq ft does not. Fences need no building permit, though Metro zoning rules on height and placement still apply. Repairs to an existing roof covering no more than 33% of the roof area are also exempt.
How much is the building permit for a new house?
Metro charges $5.00 per $1,000 of total valuation for one- and two-family homes and townhouses, plus a $25 zoning examination fee and a Codes Tech Fee of 10% of the valuation fee; there is no plan review fee for these homes. A house valued at $300,000 works out to $1,500 + $150 + $25 = $1,675 before trade permits.
Can a homeowner pull the permit instead of a contractor?
Tennessee lets an owner build for personal use and take out the permit once every 24 months (TCA § 62-6-103); the work must still pass every inspection. A state contractor licence is needed on projects of $25,000 or more done by a contractor.
Simplify Davidson County permitting with Alliance Permitting
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Inspections are where schedules slip.
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Alliance Permitting is a permit documentation and submission company: we prepare your paperwork, file it correctly, and coordinate with the building department through issuance — including preparing private-provider documentation where that option is available. We are not a contractor and do not perform licensed plan review or inspections; that work stays with your team and the jurisdiction.
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More Tennessee permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general informational purposes and reflects publicly available information believed accurate as of June 2026. Permit requirements, fees, and processes change; always confirm current details with the Davidson County Metro Codes & Building Safety before filing. This is not legal advice.