The City of Hendersonville Building and Codes Department, at 101 Maple Drive North, is the building authority inside Hendersonville — the largest city in Sumner County, on Old Hickory Lake. It uses a valuation-based fee model, a CSS online portal, and — distinctively — requires the county facilities-tax certificate on new development.
The wrinkle here is a county charge on a city permit: because Hendersonville is in Sumner County, the county Adequate Facilities Tax applies to new development, and the city requires a county certificate that it has been paid before issuing. The permit fee is valuation-based, and lakeside work on Old Hickory Lake can add Corps of Engineers review.
Scope: inside the city limits of Hendersonville through Building and Codes. Unincorporated Sumner County and neighbouring cities permit their own — but the county facilities tax reaches new development.
A city permit that still needs the county facilities tax. Because Hendersonville is in Sumner County, the county Adequate Facilities Tax applies to new development, and the city requires a county certificate that it has been paid before issuing — a city that issues without it becomes liable to the county. The building permit fee is valuation-based, and lakeside work on Old Hickory Lake can add Corps of Engineers review.
What requires a permit in Hendersonville?
The City of Hendersonville Building and Codes Department, at 101 Maple Drive North, is the building authority inside the city limits of Hendersonville — the largest city in Sumner County, a Nashville suburb on the shore of Old Hickory Lake. The department reviews plans, issues permits and inspects. Sumner County and neighbouring cities run their own permitting, so confirm the parcel is inside Hendersonville before you file.
The city requires permits for new construction, additions, accessory structures, pools, retaining walls, demolition and asbestos-related work, and the sub-trades. Its building permit fee is valuation-based — total project valuation multiplied by a set rate, using the 2021 Building Valuation Data table as a minimum — with residential plan review at 30 per cent of the permit fee and commercial at 50 per cent. The city enforces the 2021 International Codes and the 2020 National Electrical Code, in force since 1 July 2025. Applications go to codes@hvilletn.org, and the Citizen Self Service portal is used to pay, track progress and request inspections. Tennessee does not have one permitting model, it has three, and which one applies decides who your building official actually is. A jurisdiction that has adopted codes meeting the state minimum and enforces them is an exempt jurisdiction: it runs its own plan review, permits and inspections, and the state stays out except for state buildings, schools and a handful of licensed occupancies. A jurisdiction that has not is non-exempt, and the State Fire Marshal's Office is the building official there, working through contracted deputy building inspectors who cover several counties each. And a jurisdiction that has passed a two-thirds resolution under T.C.A. § 68-120-101(b)(1)(B) is an opt-out or non-code jurisdiction, where one- and two-family dwellings sit outside the statewide standards altogether.
The distinctive wrinkle here is a county charge that reaches a city permit. Because Hendersonville is in Sumner County, the Sumner County Adequate Facilities Tax applies to new development county-wide, and the city requires a county certificate that the Adequate Facilities Tax has been paid before it issues a permit for new development — a city that issues without it becomes liable to the county for the tax. So account for the county AFT even on a Hendersonville city permit. No political subdivision of Tennessee may adopt or enforce standards of fire prevention, fire protection or building construction that are less stringent than the state minimum. Local amendments can add to the code; they cannot subtract from it.
Permit required
- New residential and commercial construction, and additions
- Accessory structures, pools, and retaining walls
- Structural alterations, repairs, and changes of occupancy
- Demolition and asbestos-related work
- Electrical, plumbing, and mechanical sub-trades
- New development — with the county Adequate Facilities Tax certificate
- Lakeside work — possible Corps of Engineers review on Old Hickory Lake
- Decks and exterior structural work
Typically exempt
- Painting, flooring, and cosmetic finishes
- Routine maintenance not altering structure or a regulated system
- Work in unincorporated Sumner County or another city
- Minor work below the city's published thresholds
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Get a free quote →Hendersonville building department: who handles permitting
Building and Codes handles the city's plan review, permitting and inspection through the CSS online portal, where applicants can pay, track progress and request inspections. The fee model is valuation-based: the building permit fee is the total project valuation multiplied by a set rate, using the 2021 Building Valuation Data table as a minimum, with residential plan review at 30 per cent of the permit fee and commercial at 50 per cent.
The county facilities tax is the feature that surprises people who assume a city permit is purely a city matter. Sumner County levies an Adequate Facilities Tax on new development across the county, and its cities — including Hendersonville — require a county certificate that the tax has been paid before issuing a permit for new development. A city that issues without the certificate becomes liable to the county for the tax, which is why the certificate is enforced, so price the county AFT into a new Hendersonville project.
The lake shapes a subset of projects. Hendersonville sits on Old Hickory Lake, a Cumberland River reservoir, so shoreline structures and work near the water can involve the United States Army Corps of Engineers, which manages the reservoir, in addition to the city permit. Identify any Corps review early on a lakeside parcel, since it runs on its own timeline.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Authority | City of Hendersonville Building and Codes Department |
| Covers | Inside the city limits of Hendersonville |
| Neighbours running their own | Sumner County, Gallatin, Goodlettsville, and others |
| Office | 101 Maple Drive North, Hendersonville, TN 37075 |
| Phone | (615) 822-3802; permitting hours Monday to Friday 8:00am to 4:30pm, payments until 3:45pm |
| Fee model | Valuation times a set rate; 2021 Building Valuation Data as minimum |
| County tax | Sumner Adequate Facilities Tax certificate required before issuance |
| Portal | Citizen Self Service portal for payments, tracking and inspections; applications by email to codes@hvilletn.org |
| Lake | Old Hickory Lake — possible Corps of Engineers review |
A city permit that still needs the county facilities tax. Because Hendersonville is in Sumner County, the county Adequate Facilities Tax applies to new development, and the city requires a county certificate that it has been paid before issuing. The fee is valuation-based, and lakeside work on Old Hickory Lake can add Corps review.
Confirm from the parcel whether the site is inside the City of Hendersonville or in unincorporated Sumner County or another Sumner city, because the permitting office changes at the city line — though the county Adequate Facilities Tax reaches new development wherever in Sumner County it sits.
In 2025, building permits issued in Hendersonville authorized 192 new privately owned housing units, all of them single-family homes, according to the U.S. Census Bureau Building Permits Survey.
Hendersonville permits: record types and what each covers
Hendersonville runs residential and commercial building records and the sub-trades. These are the records you are likely to file:
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →Residential permit types
| Permit type | What triggers it | Review path | Fee basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| New construction | New dwellings, additions, and accessory structures above the local size threshold | Plan review against the adopted residential code, plus zoning; the state floor is the 2018 IRC with Appendix Q | Valuation-based |
| Addition | Added interior space, including additions of 30 square feet or more | Structural and energy review; the 30 square foot interior trigger is smaller than most applicants expect | Valuation-based |
| Renovation / alteration | Structural changes, layout changes, or added plumbing, mechanical, or electrical | Plan review scaled to scope; renovations of existing one- and two-family dwellings sit outside the state minimum standards | Valuation-based |
| Reroof | Roof covering replacement, recover, and structural deck repair | Deck and dry-in inspection; plan review rarely required | Valuation or squares |
| Solar photovoltaic | Rooftop or ground-mount arrays, with or without battery storage | Structural review of the attachment locally, with the electrical scope usually permitted and inspected by the state | Flat or system-size based |
| Battery energy storage | Wall or floor-mounted storage added to a dwelling | Electrical review plus fire separation and location check | Flat or per-permit minimum |
| Electrical | Service changes, panel upgrades, new circuits, EV chargers, and rewiring | In most of Tennessee a state record bought through CORE and inspected by a contracted Deputy Electrical Inspector, not a local one | Per-permit or per-device |
| Plumbing | New piping, repipes, fixtures, gas piping, and water heater replacement | Trade review; performed by a licensed plumber or a Limited Licensed Plumber below the contractor threshold | Per-permit minimum or per-fixture |
| Mechanical / HVAC | Changeouts, new ductwork, and refrigeration | Trade review; the contractor licence attaches once the trade portion reaches the statutory threshold | Per-permit minimum or per-unit |
| Deck and porch | New decks, screened porches, and structural rebuilds | Structural review of footings, ledger attachment, and guards | Valuation or flat |
| Swimming pool | In-ground and above-ground pools | Barrier, bonding, and electrical review; the bonding scope generally follows the state electrical record | Valuation or flat |
| Manufactured home set-up | Placing or re-siting a manufactured home | Zoning, floodplain, and anchoring review; manufactured homes sit outside the state residential code but are installed under state installation rules, and local zoning still applies | Flat or per-unit |
| Demolition | Full or partial demolition of a dwelling or accessory structure | Utility disconnect confirmation and site restoration check | Flat |
| New single-family dwelling | Building a new home inside the city | Building review; county facilities-tax certificate; valuation fee | Valuation-based fee |
| Retaining wall or pool | A retaining wall or swimming pool | Building review with structural and barrier checks | Valuation-based fee |
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →Commercial permit types
| Permit type | What triggers it | Review path | Fee basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| New commercial construction | Ground-up commercial, industrial, and institutional buildings | Concurrent review against the adopted building code, fire, and zoning; the state floor is the 2021 IBC with Tennessee amendments | Valuation-based |
| Tenant improvement / upfit | Interior fit-out of an existing tenant space | Building, trade, and life-safety review; accessibility attaches on change of use | Valuation-based |
| Change of occupancy | Converting a building or space to a different use group | Occupancy classification, egress, and accessibility review | Valuation or flat |
| Commercial electrical | Service, distribution, and branch circuit work | State record in most jurisdictions unless the city or county is on the State Fire Marshal’s exempt list and inspects its own electrical | Per-permit or valuation |
| Commercial plumbing | Process piping, fixtures, backflow, and grease waste | Trade review; backflow and grease interceptor sign-off where applicable | Per-fixture or valuation |
| Commercial mechanical | Rooftop units, kitchen exhaust and hood systems, and refrigeration | Trade review; hood and suppression systems draw fire review alongside mechanical | Per-unit or valuation |
| Commercial reroof | Roof covering replacement on a commercial structure | Deck, dry-in, and attachment inspection | Valuation or squares |
| Signage | Wall, ground, and illuminated signs | Zoning review for size and placement, plus electrical where illuminated | Flat or per-sign |
| Land disturbance | Clearing, grading, and stormwater-triggering site work | Erosion and sediment control review, separate from the building permit | Acreage-based |
| Commercial demolition | Full or partial demolition of a commercial structure | Utility disconnect, asbestos notification, and site restoration | Flat or valuation |
| State Fire Marshal plans review | Occupancies requiring State Fire Marshal approval, including schools and certain licensed facilities | Filed with the state through the plans submittal portal, in addition to and not instead of the local record | State fee schedule |
| Commercial new construction | A new commercial building inside the city | Full plan review at 50 per cent of the permit fee | Valuation-based fee |
| Lakeside structure | Shoreline work on Old Hickory Lake | City permit plus possible Corps of Engineers review | Fee by scope plus federal review |
Residential
- Single-discipline review in most cases
- The electrical record is usually a separate state permit, not a line on the building permit
- Contractor licence attaches at the statutory threshold; a Home Improvement licence may apply below it in nine counties only
- Septic properties need a TDEC septic construction permit before the system is installed, and some counties add their own
Commercial — multi-discipline
- Concurrent review across building, trades, fire, and zoning
- Signed and sealed plans across every affected discipline
- The licensee's monetary limit caps the job value, separately from the permit
- Accessibility and life-safety review attach to any change of occupancy
Records you will actually see in Hendersonville
| Record | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Residential building permit | New homes, additions, alterations, and repairs |
| Commercial building permit | Commercial construction and tenant work |
| Accessory / pool / retaining wall | Accessory structures, pools, and walls |
| Electrical permit | Electrical sub-trade work |
| Plumbing permit | New piping, repipes, and fixtures |
| Mechanical / gas permit | HVAC changeouts, ductwork, and gas work |
| Demolition / asbestos | Demolition and asbestos-related work |
| Lakeside structure | Shoreline work, with possible Corps review |
Rather not deal with the building department?
Get a free quote →Solar permits in Hendersonville
A residential solar installation inside Hendersonville is a city building permit for the structural attachment plus an electrical sub-trade permit for the wiring, handled through the city's Building and Codes Department. On new development the county Adequate Facilities Tax certificate applies, though a roof-mounted retrofit on an existing home is not new development. The local power company sets the meter release on an approved electrical inspection, so confirm the interconnection path early.
Roofing permits in Hendersonville
A re-roof inside Hendersonville is a city building permit whose fee is valuation-based, using the 2021 Building Valuation Data table as a minimum. A like-for-like replacement is straightforward; adding load or altering the roof structure draws closer review. A re-roof on an existing home is not new development, so the county facilities-tax certificate that attaches to new construction does not apply to it.
Tennessee solar jobs usually need a state electrical permit, unless the city or county runs its own electrical inspections, plus any local building review; roofing follows the adopted code and the manufacturer's instructions. Tennessee rules
Hendersonville permit cost
Hendersonville building permit fees are valuation-based: the fee is the total project valuation multiplied by a set rate, using the 2021 Building Valuation Data table as a minimum, with residential plan review at 30 per cent of the permit fee and commercial at 50 per cent. On new development, the county Adequate Facilities Tax is a further, separate charge collected by the county.
Confirm the current fee rate and the adopted code editions with the department before budgeting, and account for the county AFT certificate a new-development permit requires. On a parcel without public sewer, allow for the TDEC septic approval.
| Fee component | How it works |
|---|---|
| Building permit | Valuation times a set rate; 2021 Building Valuation Data minimum |
| Plan review | Residential 30 per cent, commercial 50 per cent of the permit fee |
| County facilities tax | Sumner AFT certificate required for new development |
| Electrical / sub-trades | Trade permits under the adopted codes |
| Lakeside | Possible Corps of Engineers review on Old Hickory Lake |
| Septic properties | TDEC approval where there is no public sewer |
| Confirm | Current fee rate and code editions with the department |
Want a precise number for a specific Hendersonville project? Send us the scope and we will price the permit path before you file.
Hendersonville trade permits
The county facilities tax reaches city permits. Four Hendersonville specifics decide whether your application moves:
Clear the county Adequate Facilities Tax
On new development, the city requires a county certificate that the Sumner County Adequate Facilities Tax has been paid before it issues, since a city that issues without it becomes liable to the county. Price the county AFT into a new project.
Budget the valuation-based fee
The building permit fee is the total project valuation multiplied by a set rate, using the 2021 Building Valuation Data table as a minimum, with plan review at 30 per cent residential or 50 per cent commercial of the permit fee. Confirm the current rate.
Confirm the adopted code editions
The city enforces the 2021 International Codes and the 2020 National Electrical Code, in force since 1 July 2025, with local amendments. Design to those editions; earlier submittals were under the 2018 codes and the 2017 NEC.
Scope lakeside review early
On a parcel on Old Hickory Lake, a shoreline structure or work near the water can involve the US Army Corps of Engineers, which manages the reservoir, in addition to the city permit. Identify any Corps review early.
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →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
Hendersonville permit application: how to apply step by step
Here is how to get a building permit in Hendersonville, from confirming the requirement through to close-out. Each step below corresponds to a real decision point where projects commonly stall.
Unincorporated Sumner County and neighbouring cities permit their own work. Settle jurisdiction from the parcel before you start, noting the county facilities tax reaches new development wherever in Sumner County it sits.
For new development, obtain the county certificate that the Sumner County Adequate Facilities Tax has been paid, since the city requires it before issuing.
Design to the 2021 codes and 2020 NEC, and prepare the application and plans to email to codes@hvilletn.org along with a valuation for the fee calculation.
On a parcel without public sewer, obtain the TDEC septic approval. On a lakeside parcel, identify any Corps of Engineers review for shoreline work.
Email the application to codes@hvilletn.org (the portal’s submittal side is not live yet), clear plan review, and pay the valuation-based building permit fee and the plan-review fee through the portal. Pull the sub-trade permits.
Book city inspections through the portal or by phone, run the sub-trade inspections, and carry the project through to occupancy before legal use.
Inspections in Hendersonville
City inspections are scheduled through the CSS portal or by phone against the issued permit, with typical checkpoints running footing and foundation, framing, trade rough-ins, insulation and final. The sub-trade inspections — electrical, plumbing and mechanical — run alongside the building inspections under the city's adopted codes.
Because the county Adequate Facilities Tax is settled before issuance on new development, by inspection time that certificate is behind the project, but confirm the certificate is on file if a question arises. On a lakeside project, any Corps of Engineers review sits outside the city's inspection sequence.
On an existing building, confirm what was previously permitted against what is standing before a change of occupancy, using the city record. A retaining wall or pool carries its own barrier and structural checks.
Sub-trade inspections run alongside the building inspections under the city's codes. On new development the county Adequate Facilities Tax certificate is settled before issuance — confirm it is on file, and clear all finals before a certificate of occupancy.
Hendersonville permit search and official resources
Hendersonville publishes its Building and Codes information and CSS portal online, with the Sumner County and state resources that sit alongside them.
- Hendersonville Building and Codes
- Hendersonville policies and codes adopted
- Sumner County Building and Codes (facilities tax)
- TN Board for Licensing Contractors
- US Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District
- TDEC subsurface sewage disposal
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →Frequently asked questions
Who issues building permits in Hendersonville, TN?
The City of Hendersonville Building and Codes Department, at 101 Maple Drive North, for work inside the city limits. Sumner County and neighbouring cities run their own permitting, so confirm the parcel is inside Hendersonville before applying. The office line is (615) 822-3802.
Does the Sumner County facilities tax apply to a Hendersonville permit?
Yes. Because Hendersonville is in Sumner County, the county Adequate Facilities Tax applies to new development, and the city requires a county certificate that the tax has been paid before it issues. A city that issues without the certificate becomes liable to the county, so price the county tax into a new project.
How much is a building permit in Hendersonville?
The building permit fee is valuation-based: the total project valuation multiplied by a set rate, using the 2021 Building Valuation Data table as a minimum. Plan review is 30 per cent of the permit fee for residential and 50 per cent for commercial. Confirm the current rate with the department.
Which building code does Hendersonville enforce?
The city enforces the 2021 International Codes and the 2020 National Electrical Code, in force since 1 July 2025: the 2021 IBC, IRC, IPC, IMC, IFGC, IECC, IEBC, IFC and swimming pool code, with local amendments, and ICC A117.1-2017. The department's policies-and-codes page lists the adopted set and the ordinances.
How do I submit a permit in Hendersonville?
By email to codes@hvilletn.org for now: the city’s Citizen Self Service portal lets you pay for permits, track progress and request inspections after creating a login, but its submittal side is not yet live. Permitting hours are Monday to Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm.
Do I need a permit for lakeside work in Hendersonville?
Possibly more than one. Hendersonville sits on Old Hickory Lake, a Cumberland River reservoir managed by the US Army Corps of Engineers, so a shoreline structure or work near the water can involve the Corps in addition to the city permit. Identify any Corps review early.
Do I need a contractor licence in Hendersonville?
A Tennessee contractor licence is required to bid or perform work valued at $25,000 or more, including labour and materials. The same threshold reaches electrical, mechanical, plumbing, HVAC and roofing subcontractors on their own portion; masonry subcontractors are licensed at $100,000.
Do I need a Home Improvement licence in Hendersonville?
No. Hendersonville is in Sumner County, which is not one of the nine Tennessee counties that require the Home Improvement licence. Below the $25,000 contractor threshold there is no separate state home improvement credential here, though local registration and trade licences still apply.
Do I need a septic approval before a building permit in Hendersonville?
On a parcel without public sewer, yes. The state's TDEC subsurface sewage disposal program issues the septic permit, and it must be in hand before the city can issue the building permit. Much of the city is on public sewer.
What requires a permit in Hendersonville?
New construction, additions, accessory structures, pools, retaining walls, demolition and asbestos-related work, and the electrical, plumbing and mechanical sub-trades. Cosmetic finishes and routine maintenance do not, but confirm your project if you are unsure.
Does Hendersonville check my HOA covenants?
No. Deed restrictions, covenants and subdivision regulations are private matters between the owner and the subdivision. A permit that clears the city can still breach a covenant, and the city will not have checked.
Is my project in Hendersonville or Sumner County?
It depends on the parcel. Hendersonville and unincorporated Sumner County permit their own work, though the county Adequate Facilities Tax reaches new development wherever in Sumner County it sits. Confirm the parcel is inside the city limits before filing with the city.
Simplify Hendersonville permitting with Alliance Permitting
Hendersonville's valuation fee model, its CSS portal, the Sumner County facilities tax that reaches its permits and its Old Hickory Lake frontage reward applicants who clear the county AFT certificate, budget the valuation-based fee, and scope any lakeside review early.
Trusted by leading builders, developers, and national contractors — 21+ years of filing in the jurisdictions we write about.
Contractors and builders choose Alliance for Hendersonville because the work is done by people who have stood at the counter:
- Right authority — inside Hendersonville or in unincorporated Sumner County or another city, resolved from the parcel.
- County tax cleared — the Sumner Adequate Facilities Tax certificate in hand for new development before the city issues.
- Fee budgeted — the valuation-based permit fee and plan-review fee priced from the project valuation.
- Lakeside handled — any Corps of Engineers review for shoreline work on Old Hickory Lake identified early.
Alliance Permitting is a permit documentation and expediting service in Tennessee. We are not a law firm and do not provide legal advice, and we are not the permitting authority.
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More Tennessee permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Hendersonville permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.