Lewis County’s own zoning FAQ says the county does not require a building permit for any structure of any size, residential or commercial, outside the city limits of Hohenwald, and that it has no building and codes department and no development or impact fee. The county has also opted out of the State Fire Marshal’s residential building program. Inside Hohenwald, the county’s only city, the City’s Building & Codes Department at 118 West Linden Avenue (931-796-2231) issues building permits, starting at $25 for residential work.
Who handles building permits in Lewis County?
| Area | Building permit |
|---|---|
| Outside Hohenwald (unincorporated county) | No county permit for any structure; the county has opted out of the state residential program |
| City of Hohenwald | Hohenwald Building & Codes Department, City Hall, 118 West Linden Avenue; Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; 931-796-2231 |
Short on time to read all of this?
Get a free quote →Hohenwald has its own Building Official, and the State Fire Marshal’s table marks the city exempt from state residential enforcement. County government is at the courthouse, 110 North Park Street, Room 108, Hohenwald, and the county refers building and codes questions to the City.
What still applies outside Hohenwald
No county building permit means no county plan review, inspection or permit fee, and the county says even an emergency backup generator needs no county permit. State requirements still apply in the unincorporated county:
- Septic: state law requires a proper septic system for homes and other buildings, and Lewis County applications are handled by TDEC from its Columbia field office (931-380-3371).
- Electrical: the State’s electrical program covers all of Lewis County, Hohenwald included, because neither appears among the exempt electrical jurisdictions. Wiring that is added or moved is permitted and inspected by the State; permits can be bought in CORE or from Meriwether Lewis Electric Cooperative (931-729-3558).
- Larger commercial buildings: with no local commercial plan review, the State Fire Marshal must approve plans for its listed building types here, among them apartment buildings, places of assembly holding 300 people or more and offices or shops of three stories or more.
Fees
The county charges no building, development or impact fee. The Board of Commissioners has passed a resolution asking the Tennessee General Assembly to amend the County Powers Relief Act so that counties could choose to enact an impact fee.
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →Hohenwald’s two published residential rates differ, and the June 2025 application form is the newer document:
| Project | Fee |
|---|---|
| Residential (application form, June 2025) | $25 for the first $100,000 of construction cost, plus $1 per additional $10,000 |
| Residential (Building & Codes web page) | $25 up to $25,000, plus $1 per additional $1,000 |
| Commercial | $50 up to $50,000, plus $5 per additional $1,000 |
| Demolition | No fee |
| Sign | No fee |
On the application form’s rate, a $200,000 house is $25 plus 10 × $1, or $35; the web page rate would give $200.
Applying in Hohenwald
Hohenwald takes building permits in person: fill in the application and bring it to City Hall. The form asks for the project address, the contractor and contractor’s licence number, a description of the work and its estimated cost. Residential applications also need a drawing that shows where the work sits on the property and what will be built.
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →Any wiring that is added or relocated inside the city needs its permit and inspections through Meriwether Lewis Electric Cooperative. A demolition permit is free, but the sewer line has to be inspected and capped, the gas line shut off with the meter removed, and the water meter turned off.
Hohenwald inspection checklists
The Building & Codes Department publishes a checklist for each inspection: footing, foundation and framing, plumbing, gas piping, mechanical rough-in, energy, decks and the final inspection. Review the matching checklist before calling for the inspection. The City’s zoning ordinance, zoning map and subdivision regulations are on the same page.
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 Lewis County building department?
Get a free quote →Official Lewis County government resources
- Places where a state residential permit is required
- State Fire Marshal residential jurisdiction table
- Hohenwald Building & Codes Department
- Lewis County official zoning FAQ
- Hohenwald Application for Building Permit (PDF)
- Where to buy a Tennessee electrical permit
- TDEC field office, Columbia
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →Lewis County permit FAQs
Is a permit required for a new home in rural Lewis County?
Not from the county: outside Hohenwald no structure needs a county building permit. The septic system still needs TDEC approval and the wiring a state electrical permit.
Is there an impact fee in Lewis County?
No. The county charges no development or impact fee.
Who issues building permits in Hohenwald?
The City of Hohenwald Building & Codes Department at City Hall, 118 West Linden Avenue (931-796-2231).
How much is a Hohenwald residential building permit?
The June 2025 application form charges $25 for the first $100,000 of construction cost plus $1 per additional $10,000; the City’s web page still shows $25 up to $25,000 plus $1 per $1,000.
Who handles electrical permits in Lewis County?
The State of Tennessee. Meriwether Lewis Electric Cooperative sells the permits and, in Hohenwald, the City sends wiring permits and inspections through the cooperative.
Do I need a permit for a backup generator outside Hohenwald?
No county permit is required.
Inspections are where schedules slip.
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More Tennessee permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Lewis County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.