Henry County says building permits are not required in its unincorporated areas, and it has no zoning there; the County Mayor’s Office at 101 W. Washington St, Paris (731-642-5212), handles subdivisions and codes enforcement. Inside Paris, the city’s Building and Codes office at 100 N Caldwell Street (731-641-1402) issues permits under the 2018 International Codes. A state electrical inspection and, for septic systems, a TDEC permit apply everywhere.
Who issues building permits in Henry County?
Outside the towns, nobody issues a building permit: the county states plainly that none is required and that it has no zoning regulations in the unincorporated area. What the county does regulate it handles through the Mayor’s Office: land subdivision under the Henry County Subdivision By-Laws and Regulations and a 1999 addendum, and a county resolution requiring owners to keep their property free of trash and junk. The State Fire Marshal’s Office (SFMO) lists the county as having opted out of its residential building program.
Short on time to read all of this?
Get a free quote →| Town or area | Building permits |
|---|---|
| Paris | City of Paris Building and Codes, 100 N Caldwell Street, 731-641-1402, Monday to Thursday 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; online portal or paper application; exempt from the state program |
| McKenzie (Henry County part) | McKenzie City Hall, 2470 Cedar St, 731-352-2292, issues building, plumbing, accessory building, porch, deck and fence permits; the SFMO also lists McKenzie in the state residential program |
| Cottage Grove | State residential building permit from the SFMO for one- and two-family homes; the published sources describe no town permit, so ask town hall |
| Henry | The SFMO table lists the town as opted out, but the SFMO apply page still lists it among state-permit cities; ask town hall before building a home |
| Puryear | Opted out of the state program; the published sources do not say whether the city issues permits, so ask city hall |
| Unincorporated county | No building permit and no zoning; subdivisions through the County Mayor’s Office |
Electrical, septic and fire code rules
- Electrical: the county says any electrical connection to the local electric company must be inspected by the State Electrical Inspector, and refers questions to the Paris Board of Public Utilities (731-642-1322). No Henry County jurisdiction, Paris included, is on the state’s list of places outside the State Electrical Program, and the state names no issuing agent in the county, so the permit is bought online in CORE.
- Septic: any property installing a septic tank needs a TDEC permit and a soil percolation test. Henry County is served by TDEC’s Jackson Environmental Field Office (septic line 731-441-5593).
- Commercial buildings: even without a county building permit, commercial businesses must follow the State of Tennessee fire codes.
- Paris trades: the city enforces the 2018 International Plumbing, Mechanical, Fuel Gas and Energy Conservation Codes, and the 2018 NFPA codes with Life Safety 101 for fire protection.
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →Costs in Henry County
The unincorporated county charges no building permit fee because it issues no building permit. Paris and McKenzie set their own permit fees, and neither city posts a fee table on the pages listed here.
A state residential permit is required in Cottage Grove and McKenzie and is optional for owners in the opt-out area. The SFMO prices it on the cost of construction, which it will not count below $60.57 per heated square foot: $100 up to $5,000, $350 from $5,001 to $100,000, $400 from $100,001 to $150,000, and $50 more for each further $50,000. New homes add $100 for the plumbing and HVAC inspection, and a living-space slab poured separately from its footing adds another $100. A 2,400 sq ft heated home is counted at no less than $145,368 and pays $400 plus $100.
Inspections in Henry County
Rural county: there are no county building inspections. An owner or contractor building or enlarging a one- or two-family home can ask the SFMO to inspect it by buying a state permit; if the home passes, the state issues a Certificate of Occupancy, which some lenders ask for.
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →State permits: inspections are requested in CORE or by email to SFMO.permits-licensing@tn.gov with the permit number and the date the work will be ready, and only the permit holder may request them. The state has three working days to inspect, one for footings, and one re-inspection is free; further re-inspections are $100.
Paris: building permits are applied for through the city’s online permit portal or on the paper application at 100 N Caldwell Street, and the same city page takes codes complaints online.
Other Paris permits
Besides building permits, the Paris Building and Codes office handles floodplain assessments, curb cut and driveway connections, land disturbance permits for commercial and industrial sites, sign and off-site directional sign permits, zoning amendments, planning submittals, appeals and livestock and chicken permits. Contractors working in the city fill in a Contractor Information Form.
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
Rather not deal with the Henry County building department?
Get a free quote →Official Henry County permitting resources
- Tennessee state residential-permit instructions
- Tennessee residential jurisdictions and inspectors
- County property subdivision and codes information
- Tennessee State Fire Marshal’s Office
- City of Paris Building and Codes
- City of McKenzie permits
- SFMO inspections in opt-out jurisdictions
- SFMO residential building permit fees
- State electrical permits (CORE)
- TDEC Jackson Environmental Field Office
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →Henry County permit FAQs
Do I need a building permit in Henry County?
Not in the unincorporated county. Henry County says building permits are not required outside its towns, and it has no zoning there.
Do I still need anything to build a house in the county?
Yes: a state electrical inspection before the power company connects, and a TDEC septic permit with a soil test if the home will use a septic tank.
Who issues building permits in Paris?
The City of Paris Building and Codes office, 100 N Caldwell Street, 731-641-1402, open Monday to Thursday 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
What codes does Paris use?
The 2018 International Building, Residential, Plumbing, Mechanical, Fuel Gas, Existing Building, Energy Conservation and Property Maintenance Codes.
Who do I call about subdividing land in Henry County?
The County Mayor’s Office at 731-642-5212, which carries out subdivision and codes enforcement.
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →Can I get a certificate of occupancy for a rural Henry County home?
Yes, by buying a state residential permit so the SFMO inspects the house; it issues the certificate when the home passes.
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More Tennessee permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Henry County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.