Unincorporated Henderson County has voted itself out of Tennessee’s residential building program and runs no building or codes department, so building a house in the rural county takes no county permit. Inside Lexington, the city’s Planning & Codes office at 33 First Street (731-968-7091) issues permits under the 2024 International Codes, and every electrical job in the county needs a State of Tennessee electrical permit.
Who issues building permits in Henderson County?
The county government at 17 Monroe Street, Suite 4, Lexington (731-968-0122), has departments from the Road Superintendent and fire department to solid waste and the trustee, but none for building, codes, planning or zoning. The County Clerk (731-968-2856) handles business licences and special events permits, not building permits. The State Fire Marshal’s Office (SFMO) lists the unincorporated county as having opted out of its residential building program.
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Get a free quote →| Area | Building permits |
|---|---|
| Lexington | City of Lexington Planning & Codes (building inspector and fire inspector), 33 First Street, 731-968-7091; exempt from the state program |
| Parker’s Crossroads | City Building & Codes Director, 731-307-6263; the city also publishes its own zoning regulations and map. See the note below on the state listing |
| Scotts Hill (Henderson County part) | State residential building permit from the SFMO for one- and two-family homes; the published sources do not describe a town building permit, so ask town hall |
| Sardis | Opted out of the state program; the published sources do not say whether the town issues building permits, so ask town hall |
| Unincorporated county | No county building permit; a state permit only if the owner asks the SFMO to inspect |
Electrical, septic and fire in Henderson County
- Electrical: no part of Henderson County is on the state’s list of places outside the State Electrical Program, so Lexington and the rural county alike need a State of Tennessee electrical permit and state inspection. The state’s issuing-agent list names no agent in the county, so buy the permit online in CORE; inspections can also be requested by phone at 615-741-7170 with the permit number.
- Plumbing, mechanical and gas in Lexington: the city enforces the 2024 International Plumbing, Mechanical and Fuel Gas Codes along with its building and residential codes.
- Septic: TDEC’s Jackson Environmental Field Office covers Henderson County (septic line 731-441-5593).
- Fire: Lexington’s codes office includes a fire inspector; the county fire department’s number is 731-968-4153.
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Get a free quote →Permit costs in Henderson County
With no county building permit, there is no county building fee. Lexington’s building permit application asks for the construction cost and the square footage of construction, and the city does not post its fee table online.
The SFMO fee applies in Scotts Hill and to owners in the opt-out area who choose state inspections. It is based on construction cost, never counted below $60.57 per heated square foot:
| Construction cost | Fee |
|---|---|
| $0 to $5,000 | $100 |
| $5,001 to $100,000 | $350 |
| $100,001 to $150,000 | $400 |
| $300,001 to $350,000 | $600 |
| Plumbing and HVAC inspection on new construction | Add $100 |
| Slab poured separately from footings | Add $100 |
A 1,500 sq ft heated addition or house is counted at no less than $90,855, so its state permit is $350, plus $100 for plumbing and HVAC if it is new construction. One re-inspection is free; each later one is $100.
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Call 1-855-478-4290 →Inspections in Henderson County
Lexington: work under a city permit is inspected by the city’s building inspector, who shares the codes office line, 731-968-7091, with the city fire inspector.
State residential permits: the permit holder, and nobody else, requests inspections in CORE or by email to SFMO.permits-licensing@tn.gov with the permit number and the ready date. The state must inspect within three working days of a request, or one working day for footings. The usual stages are foundation, rough-in and framing, and final, and the work must begin within 180 days of the permit being issued.
Opt-out area: an owner or contractor building or adding to a one- or two-family home in rural Henderson County can buy a state permit to have the SFMO inspect it. A home that passes receives a state Certificate of Occupancy, which can open up lenders and loan programs that ask for one.
Planning and flood rules in Lexington
Lexington’s Building and Planning Department enforces the city’s zoning, flood, sign and site plan ordinances and its subdivision regulations, all posted on its Planning & Codes page with the official zoning map. Sign permits and Board of Zoning Appeals hearings have their own applications. The Lexington Planning Commission meets on the second Monday of each month at 5:30 p.m. at the Lexington Utilities Operations Facility, 180 Maple Street.
Rather not deal with the Henderson County building department?
Get a free quote →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 Henderson County permitting resources
- Tennessee state residential-permit instructions
- Tennessee residential jurisdictions and inspectors
- Henderson County official government directory
- Henderson County Clerk
- City of Lexington Planning & Codes
- Lexington building permit application (PDF)
- City of Parkers Crossroads directory
- SFMO inspections in opt-out jurisdictions
- SFMO residential building permit fees
- State electrical permits (CORE)
- TDEC Jackson Environmental Field Office
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Get a free quote →Henderson County permit FAQs
Does Henderson County require a building permit?
No. The county has opted out of the state residential building program and has no building department, so rural projects need no county building permit. Electrical and septic permits still apply.
Who issues building permits in Lexington?
The City of Lexington Planning & Codes office, 33 First Street, 731-968-7091, open 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
What building code does Lexington use?
The 2024 International Building, Residential, Mechanical, Plumbing, Fuel Gas and Fire Codes.
How do I get an electrical permit in Henderson County?
Buy a State of Tennessee electrical permit in CORE; the state lists no issuing agent in the county.
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →Can I get a certificate of occupancy for a house in the rural county?
Yes, by buying a state residential permit and passing the SFMO’s inspections, even though the county has opted out.
Who handles septic permits?
TDEC’s Jackson Environmental Field Office (731-441-5593).
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More Tennessee permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Henderson County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.