Haywood County, Tennessee Building Permit Guide

In unincorporated Haywood County, building permits and certificates of occupancy are issued by the county’s Zoning Compliance Officer, reached through the Code Enforcement & Building Inspector office at 11 South Lafayette, Brownsville (731-772-0432). The county enforces the 2018 International Codes it adopted on June 1, 2021, so it is exempt from the state’s residential permit program, and it will not issue a permit until the water supply and sewage plan has been approved.

Who issues building permits in Haywood County?

The county’s building inspector works with builders and homeowners on new homes, remodels, repairs to existing homes and mobile home placement, and reports enforcement and inspection matters to the county planning committee. Under the Zoning Resolution, the Zoning Compliance Officer appointed by the County Commission takes applications for building permits, temporary building and use permits, certificates of occupancy and uses permitted on appeal, and carries out the inspections. Property-condition complaints go to Haywood County Code Enforcement (731-779-3472). The county government offices are at 1 North Washington, Brownsville (731-772-1432).

The State Fire Marshal’s Office lists Haywood County, Brownsville and Stanton as exempt from its residential building program; each has received an exemption.

Electrical, plumbing, gas and septic

• Electrical: Haywood County, Brownsville and Stanton are all inside the State Electrical Program, so electrical work takes a State of Tennessee permit and state inspection. Permits are sold in CORE and by the state’s local issuing agent, Brownsville Energy Authority (731-772-8845), which does not take permit orders by phone or email.
• Plumbing and gas in Brownsville: the city requires a building permit for plumbing and gas work, plumbers need at least a Limited Licensed Plumber licence (good for work up to $25,000), and anyone doing gas work must register for a $30 Gas Installer Permit with a $25,000 bond or $100,000 liability certificate.
• Septic: TDEC’s Jackson Environmental Field Office covers Haywood County (septic line 731-441-5593). The county’s Zoning Resolution bars any building permit until written approval of the water supply and sewage disposal for the use has been received.
• Fire inspections: for rural Haywood County, the county directs fire inspection requests to its Fire Chief (731-585-3473).

Haywood County permit fees

Fees for building permits, temporary permits, certificates of occupancy and appeals are set by the Haywood County Commission, and the Zoning Resolution requires the schedule to be posted in the Zoning Compliance Officer’s office; the county website does not publish it. No application is processed until its fee is paid, and government agencies pay no fee.

Brownsville and Stanton keep their own fee schedules; Stanton posts its schedule as a PDF on its Building & Codes forms page.

What to submit in the unincorporated county

Applications are taken in duplicate on the Zoning Compliance Officer’s forms, with a scale drawing of the plans. The drawing must show the shape, size, height and position on the lot of every building being built, altered or moved and of any building already there, and the application states the current and intended use. Where the Zoning Resolution calls for site plan review, as it does in the commercial and industrial districts, the site plan must be stamped by a licensed engineer or surveyor and approved by the Haywood County Regional Planning Commission before a permit is issued; the approval lasts one year.

Inspections and certificates of occupancy

County: the Zoning Compliance Officer inspects the work and issues the Certificate of Occupancy. Once you report that a building is ready, the officer has five days to make the final inspection and either issue the certificate or refuse it in writing. A permit becomes void after six months unless substantial progress has been made. The Planning Director, Building Official or Zoning Compliance Officer can issue a stop work order, and stop work orders and violation notices can be appealed to the Board of Zoning Appeals.

Stanton: the town inspects footings, framing, plumbing, electrical and mechanical rough-ins, insulation and finals, and asks for next-day inspections to be booked before 3:00 p.m. (weekdays 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.).

Zoning and growth planning in Haywood County

The Zoning Resolution divides the county into seven districts (FAR, AE, R, R-MH, C, I-1 and I-2) with a Flood Hazard overlay. Farm buildings on land in agricultural use need no building permit, but they must still meet the height limit and the setback from the road right-of-way. A temporary building for construction materials can be permitted for up to six months. Off-premise billboard signs are permitted through the Office of the Building Inspector.

The county has published the Haywood Next future land use plan and interim development and design guidelines, and subdivisions follow the subdivision regulations dated June 2023.

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 Haywood County government resources

• Tennessee state residential permit instructions
• Tennessee residential jurisdictions and inspectors
• Haywood County government information
• Haywood County departments
• Haywood County Code Enforcement & Building Inspector
• Haywood County Zoning Resolution, August 2024 (PDF)
• Haywood County Subdivision Regulations, June 2023 (PDF)
• City of Brownsville Codes Office
• Town of Stanton building forms and fee schedule
• State electrical permit issuing agents
• TDEC Jackson Environmental Field Office

Haywood County permit FAQs

Who issues building permits in rural Haywood County?

The county’s Zoning Compliance Officer and building inspector at 11 South Lafayette, Brownsville (731-772-0432).

Which building code does Haywood County use?

The 2018 International Codes, adopted by the county on June 1, 2021; electrical work follows the state’s electrical program.

Do I need a permit for a barn?

Not for a farm building on land in agricultural use, although it must still meet the county’s height limit and road setback.

What happens if I build without a permit?

The county charges twice the normal application or permit fee, and a citation for a violation is $50.

Who permits work in Brownsville?

The City of Brownsville Codes Office (731-772-1212). Any work except purely cosmetic work needs a city permit, and contractors must register with the city first.

Where do I get an electrical permit in Haywood County?

From the state, online in CORE or through Brownsville Energy Authority, the state’s issuing agent in the county.

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