Fentress County, Tennessee Building Permit Guide

Outside Jamestown and Allardt, Fentress County has no zoning rules and does not issue building permits, and the county has also opted out of the state’s residential building program. Owners still need an E-911 address, a TDEC septic permit where there is no sewer, and a state electrical permit. Inside Jamestown, permits and zoning come from the city (931-879-8815); in Allardt, a new home needs a state residential permit.

Who issues permits in Fentress County?

The county says it has no zoning regulations and no special building permit requirements, but state permit and inspection laws still apply and owners should check their deed for restrictions. Questions go to the County Executive’s Office, 101 N Main Street, Jamestown (931-879-7713).

The State Fire Marshal’s table (August 21, 2026) shows that the county passed a resolution opting out of the state residential building program, so the state does not require a residential building permit for homes in the unincorporated area either. The two incorporated places are handled differently:

• Jamestown: exempt from the state program because it enforces its own rules. The county says zoning applies and permits are required inside the city. City Hall is at 314 East Central Avenue (931-879-8815), open Monday to Thursday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
• Allardt: in the State Residential Building Program. New one- and two-family homes, townhouses and additions over 30 sq ft need a state residential permit, bought online in the state’s CORE system and inspected by a state-contracted inspector. Detached garages, sheds and barns not used for living need no state permit.

Electrical, septic and address requirements

• Electrical: no Fentress jurisdiction runs its own electrical inspections, so electrical permits throughout the county, Jamestown included, come from the State Fire Marshal’s Office. Buy them in CORE, or request an inspection by phone at 615-741-7170 with the permit number. State deputy inspectors enforce the 2017 National Electrical Code.
• Septic: TDEC’s Cookeville Environmental Field Office serves Fentress County; septic inquiries go to 931-206-6329.
• E-911 address: needed before you can get utility and septic permits. Call 931-879-1368. Stake or flag each structure first; staff drive out and fix each location by GPS, usually on Tuesdays and Thursdays, weather permitting. If the house is more than 30 feet from the street or out of sight, put the number on the mailbox or at the driveway entrance.

Fees in Fentress County

With no county permit there is no county building fee. State residential permits, needed in Allardt and optional in the unincorporated county, are priced by the cost of construction:

Electrical permit fees are set by the state and paid in CORE. Jamestown’s city permit fees are not published on the city website; ask City Hall.

Inspections and certificates of occupancy

In the unincorporated county there is no county building inspection. Because the county has opted out, a homeowner or contractor who wants one can ask the State Fire Marshal’s Office to inspect a new home or addition by buying a state building permit. If the home meets the state standards, the state issues a Certificate of Occupancy, which some lenders and loan programs require. Questions about this go to 615-741-7170.

In Allardt, and on any optional state permit, state inspectors check the foundation before the pour, the framing and rough-in, and the finished work; plumbing and mechanical are checked at rough-in and final. One failed inspection gets a free re-inspection; later ones are charged. Inspections are requested in CORE. State electrical inspections apply everywhere in the county.

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 Fentress County permitting resources

• Tennessee state residential-permit instructions
• Tennessee residential jurisdictions and inspectors
• Fentress County official zoning and permitting FAQ
• Fentress County zoning statement
• Fentress County E-911 addressing
• City of Jamestown
• State residential building permit fees
• State inspections in opt-out jurisdictions
• Tennessee electrical permits (CORE)
• TDEC Cookeville Environmental Field Office (septic)

Fentress County permit FAQs

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

Not from the county. Fentress County has no zoning and no county building permit, and it has opted out of the state residential program. Inside Jamestown you need a city permit, and in Allardt a state residential permit.

Do I still need an electrical permit?

Yes. Electrical permits and inspections come from the State Fire Marshal’s Office everywhere in the county.

Can I get a certificate of occupancy for a house outside the towns?

Yes, by asking the State Fire Marshal’s Office to inspect it under a state building permit. If it passes, the state releases a Certificate of Occupancy.

How do I get a 911 address?

Mark the structure with stakes or flags and call Fentress County E-911 addressing at 931-879-1368. You need the address before utility and septic permits.

Who handles septic permits?

TDEC’s Cookeville field office, 931-206-6329.

Who do I call about permits in Jamestown?

Jamestown City Hall, 931-879-8815.

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